LUDLOW-based Marches Biogas, which specialises in on-farm and commercial anaerobic digesters, has been visited by MP Philip Dunne.

Anaerobic digesters make use of the natural biological process where organic material is broken down by bacteria. That then creates biogas, which can be used to produce electricity, either for commercial or farm sites or to sell to the national grid. The organic waste by-product from the process can then be used as fertiliser.

Conservative Mr Dunne said: “South Shropshire has become a centre of excellence in pioneering anaerobic digestion technology in the UK so I was pleased to visit the rapidly-growing Marches Biogas facility and view one of their latest on-farm plants being built near Ludlow.

“This entrepreneurial farm is creating a fully integrated anaerobic digester system, with a new poultry unit, using poultry litter as the feedstock for the digester, to generate heat and electricity for the growing sheds.

“Anaerobic digesters are an efficient way to reuse farm waste to create biogas for heating and electricity and produce organic fertiliser as a by-product.

“This Ludlow-based company is going from strength to strength as more people begin to see the value in the renewable, waste-efficient energy that anaerobic digesters offer.

“Success stories like Marches Biogas, now employing 22 people having only started trading four years ago, play an important part in growing the local economy and developing Shropshire’s increasing reputation for ad technology innovation.”