Advanced Manure Management
Technologies for Ontario
(AMMTO)

 News Release: November 22, 2001

Minister Announces Funding:

The Honourable Brian Coburn, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs recently approved $222,005 in provincial funding under the Healthy Futures for Ontario Agriculture program for the Advanced Manure Management Technologies for Ontario (AMMTO) project.  AMMTO is an exciting partnership between Cold Springs Farm Ltd., Ontario Pork, the Poultry Industry Council, the Ontario Pork Industry Council, Premium Pork, Selves Farms and the province.  The focus of the AMMTO project is to provide a scientifically evaluated information base from which decisions regarding advanced manure management systems can be made.

The Challenge:

There is considerable public pressure for the agriculture industry to address concerns surrounding land application of manure, potential impacts on surface and groundwater, and livestock and poultry production odours.  While a variety of advanced manure management technologies exist world-wide, many technologies have not yet been adopted in Ontario.  Livestock and poultry producers need an objective source of information to help them decide between the available options.

 Project goal:

The goal of the AMMTO project is to improve and protect the water quality of rural Ontario by providing a scientifically evaluated information base of manure management technologies.  The information will be structured to allow decision-making with regard to the scale and type of livestock operation, surrounding environmental conditions, and the concerns and needs of the local community. Solutions will address the need to encourage rural economic development and to improve the quality of life for rural communities through a healthy environment, as well as addressing the specific needs of the livestock and poultry sectors.

 Project partners:

This project has a variety of industry stakeholders involved.  In addition to the lead applicant and partners listed above, other non-financial supporters of the project include:

Ontario Ministry of Environment (MOE), Upper Thames River and Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authorities, Ontario Rural Wastewater Centre (ORWC), Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), County of Huron Planning, National Research Council – Industrial Research Assistance Program, Hydroxyl Systems / Waste Solutions Ltd., Habitat Works! Inc., University of Guelph/ Ridgetown College, and Kinectrics.

The following is a summary of the objectives and activities of the AMMTO project:

 1. To develop specific, measurable criteria for evaluating manure treatment technologies that allow for alternatives to direct land application.  These specific criteria will be based on the following goals, allowing for evaluation of how well each technology works to:

• Improve or protect surface and ground water quality;

• Eliminate or greatly reduce land base requirements for manure application directly adjacent to livestock production facilities;

• Improve air quality by reducing offensive odours and green house gas emissions;

• Capture the full marketable value of the manure in nutrient by-products and/or energy;

• Ensure economic viability.

2. To evaluate technologies according to the specific, measurable criteria developed from Objective 1.

3. To develop a report outlining the required “Steps to Implement” for different technologies which rate highly in the evaluation process (Objective 2), and therefore show promise or have already been demonstrated to be viable elsewhere.

4. To initiate a pilot project to demonstrate and assess one or more of the viable technologies in Ontario. 

“Steps To Implement” Report:

The project staff will compile the results of their evaluation into a report which clearly outlines the necessary steps to implement a given technology in Ontario. This information base for decision-making will include assessment of:

• Volume and characteristics of manure required;

• Other sectors which should be considered as potential co-operators to increase the viability of certain technologies by co-mingling of by-products, such as, rural septage from private landowners, food processing, municipal wastewater/ sewage treatment, rendering, etc.;

• Capital costs and operating costs;

• Level of management expertise required to operate a given technology;

• Reliability of system under different operating conditions;

• Impact on existing farm operations (landbase, building and manure storage requirements);

• Environmental concerns (effluent, emissions, contingency plans);

• Benefits or advantages (financial, societal, intangibles);

• Marketability of product or by-products;

• Legislative or regulatory requirements.

Any hurdles or stumbling blocks that prevent a technology from being implemented will be clearly outlined.  Technologies which are readily applicable today will be clearly identified.  This report will be made available to all interested parties.  It will be offered in its full form to the public via a web-based format which will be accessible, searchable, updateable and highly useful. 

Pilot Project Stage:

The advisory committees and project manager will recommend viable technologies for pilot scale testing.  Companies willing to provide capital and facilities to establish a pilot project will consult with the advisory committees and project manager to select a viable technology that best meets their needs.  More than one pilot project may be initiated, as interested companies review the results with different needs or objectives.  Scientific monitoring of the pilot project(s) by an objective third party will verify whether a given technology and its implementation process can be used as a successful model for other projects in Ontario.

Conclusion:

By being proactive in addressing the future of manure management, the agricultural community and its partners can identify solutions that protect the environment and the health of rural citizens while ensuring livestock and poultry production remains a viable industry in Ontario.  We look forward to working with different stakeholders from across the livestock and poultry sector, as well as other interested parties in finding ways to ensure a prosperous, healthy future for livestock and poultry production in Ontario.

Contacts:

For more information, please contact: