Speaking afterwards Minister O’Neill said: “The local poultry sector is being constrained from expanding due to lack of progress in securing a long term solution to poultry litter disposal. In response to this, I commissioned a review of poultry litter management options by DARD officials and the Agri-food & Biosciences Institute (AFBI) which was published in April this year.

"The poultry sector and the management of poultry litter impacts on the responsibilities of other government departments, and officials are working together to explore how the findings of the review can be progressed and a resolution found to the issue of sustainable management and disposal of poultry litter.

“The response to the review has been very positive. I welcome the fact that a number of companies have come forward with new ideas and potential approaches to poultry litter management.

“This sector is a key part of our agri-food industry and an important contributor to the local economy. I am therefore keen that the full range of innovative, novel and sustainable approaches for poultry litter management come forward from the industry for consideration and evaluation.”