UK Soil Association laments pig farm plans

The UK Soil Association has called for plans to build a giant pig farm in the Midlands to be put on hold, after it raised fears over potential air and soil pollution.

Midland Pig Producers wants to build a "mega" pig farm in Foston in Derbyshire, which will be capable of housing up to 25,000 of the animals.

However, representatives of the Soil Association have highlighted a new study conducted by the Health Protection Association (HPA), which indicated that people living in the vicinity of the complex could develop illnesses.

"Those living up to 150m downwind of an intensive swine [pig] farming installation could be at risk of adverse human health effects associated with exposure to multi- drug resistant organisms," the HPA stated.

The soil protection group has also said that 13,000 members of the public have opposed the proposals.

Last month, the Soil Association welcomed an announcement by the European Commission that it would alter farming legislation from 2013 in order to boost employment throughout the agricultural sector.

Posted by Lauren Steadman