Environmental analysis news: Food can help power the nation, says Benn

A new initiative has been launched to encourage businesses and local authorities to turn food and other organic waste into energy.

Accelerating the Uptake of Anaerobic Digestion in England: An Implementation Plan sets of the ways in which organisations can convert materials such as food and manure to fuel.

Launching the document, environment secretary Hilary Benn said anaerobic digestion (AD) has a huge amount of potential.

"I've already seen great examples of this technology in use around the country and the Implementation Plan we are publishing today will help speed up its use across the economy. We should aim to become world leaders in the innovative use of AD," he commented.

In related news, energy minister Lord Hunt recently launched an action plan aimed at demonstrating how the UK can harness marine energy.

He noted that this sector could provide up to 16,000 jobs in the future.

Written by Joseph Hutton