Slurry from 400,000 cows and 120,000ac of silage will be needed for a major new project that aims to cut agricultural carbon emissions by 9.1m tonnes.

Project Clover will see the development of 125 agricultural anaerobic digestion plants that will produce biomethane to displace natural gas and also create biofertiliser to displace chemical fertiliser.

The project’s members include Danone, Dairygold, Glanbia Ireland, Carbery, Tipperary Co-Op and Lakeland Dairies and it is currently in the feasibility phase.

If realised, the network of plants will require two million tonnes of slurry and 2.5m tonnes of silage as feedstock.