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Conference targets biogas opportunity for Québec livestock sector

Helping Québec's livestock sector decide if it can capitalize on a potential opportunity in on-farm biogas production is the focus of a special one-day biogas conference, planned for Jan. 26 at Érablière Le Rossignol in Sainte-Julie.

The conference, "Biogas Production on the Farm: Is Québec Ready?" features leading speakers with a range of perspectives on how to take advantage of this unique opportunity in renewable energy production. The conference is supported by Canada's Agricultural Producers Addressing Environmental Issues (CAPAEI).

"This is the event not to miss for livestock producers and industry representatives who are interested in better understanding the issues and possibilities around on-farm biogas production," says Nathalie Côté, coordinator of environment and quality assurance for the Fédération des Producteurs de Bovins du Québec.

Livestock manure is an excellent source of methane gas, a byproduct of the process of fermentation that could help fulfill energy needs on farms, notes Côté. Utilizing manure as an energy source also reduces emissions of methane – a key greenhouse gas – to the atmosphere, which is an important environmental benefit.

"This is why more and more attention around the globe is put on anaerobic digestion to produce energy at the farm and to reduce greenhouse gas and odour emissions. The question for Québec's agricultural sector is whether it is ready to seize the biogas opportunity, and how this can be done. The biogas conference is designed to allow participants to answer those questions."

The lineup of conference speakers features Torsten Fischer of Krieg & Fischer, a German engineering firm with over 20 years of experience in biogas projects in Europe and North America. It also includes Jake De Bruyn, engineer responsible for the integration of new technologies with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA), as well as Anna Crolla, a University of Guelph researcher who recently led a project on land application of anaerobically digested manure.

Key topics include: "How to produce biogas on-farm," "Technology advantages and challenges," "Examples of farms using biogas technologies," "Assessing the agronomic value of digested manure," and "Policies to facilitate the technology development within the ag sector." The day wraps up with a debate on "What is the future of biogas on Québec farms?"

The conference has a strong practical focus for producers in various livestock sectors, including beef, dairy and pork, says Côté.

"Producers don't yet have all the knowledge to help them make the best decision about biogas production at the farm level. The conference is aimed to help them to be better equipped when they decide to take steps towards that goal. It will explain the different technologies available, the limits of each one and the approaches developed here and in other countries to help producers with these new technologies."

Registration information for the biogas conference is available on the Web site of the Centre de Référence en Agriculture et Agroalimentaire du Québec (CRAAQ), at www.craaq.qc.ca, or by phoning CRAAQ at: (418) 523-5411 or 888-535-2537. Registration cost is $52 per person.

Canada's Agricultural Producers Addressing Environmental Issues (CAPAEI) is a federal initiative funded through AAFC's Greencover Canada program. It is designed by, and administered through the Soil Conservation Council of Canada. The Canadian Cattlemen's Association coordinates the delivery of the program to beef cattle producers.

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