Bangor University academic invited to international panel on animal by-products disposal

Animal by-products may not be a subject that many give a great deal of thought to, but their safe and effective disposal is something that is extremely important with regards to disease, food security, and even climate change. Millions of tonnes of animal by-products are generated every year as a result of the food and agriculture industry, and the subject is of growing global importance.

Dr Prysor Williams from the School of Environment, Natural Resources & Geography has just returned from an international symposium in Detroit, USA, focussed on discussing all aspects of animal by-product disposal. During the conference, he presented two papers on the research work being undertaken at Bangor University on a novel system of storing livestock carcasses prior to disposal, called Bioreduction. He was also invited to sit on an international panel with members from New Zealand, Canada, USA and South Korea, to discuss the subject of disposal.

Dr Williams said “this symposium bought world-leaders in the research field together with policy-makers and industry. It made for an extremely interesting insight into why and how methods for dealing with animal by-products vary globally.”

Due to population growth and changes in diet, making best use of animal by-products is increasingly importance in order to limit the environmental impact of food production and processing. Safe disposal systems are also essential in avoiding disastrous diseases such as foot and mouth and BSE.

Dr Williams added “there was significant interest in Bioreduction by delegates from all over the world. They are eager to see how the research at Bangor develops so that the technology can be ratified by policy-makers for industry use.”

Publication date: 31 May 2012