This page highlights current collaborative work that RESNI is supporting. It is written as a public-facing overview and deliberately excludes commercially sensitive technical detail, confidential farm information and private financial data. The featured project is funded and has been underway since 1 February 2026.
Current work is focused on practical innovation that can reduce emissions, improve bird welfare and strengthen the environmental performance of commercial poultry systems.
This funded project is a collaborative, farmer-led innovation programme focused on ammonia emissions from broiler production. The project started on 1 February 2026. Its aim is to test whether engineered biochar can reduce ammonia formation in broiler housing, improve litter condition, support bird welfare and provide a practical route to better nutrient management without requiring major changes to existing poultry systems.
The project addresses a clear commercial and environmental challenge. Excess ammonia in broiler houses is associated with poorer air quality, nitrogen loss, respiratory irritation, litter deterioration and welfare issues such as foot pad dermatitis and hock marking. Litter moisture and pH are particularly important because they influence ammonia formation, microbial activity and the condition of the birds’ contact surfaces.
The public-facing summary is simple: develop the material, test it under controlled conditions, then evaluate it in replicated commercial-farm trials using control, unmodified biochar and engineered biochar treatments.
Published work shows that litter condition is central to broiler welfare. Litter moisture is strongly linked to foot pad lesions, and ammonia-rich litter environments are also associated with hock damage and poorer in-shed conditions.
Ammonia emissions from broiler litter are a recognised management concern because elevated NH₃ can negatively affect bird health, welfare and growth performance. Better litter chemistry can therefore support both environmental and commercial outcomes.
The project is not simply testing a material in isolation. It is assessing whether an engineered biochar-based litter amendment can become a practical drop-in intervention for commercial poultry systems.
This is a farmer-led collaboration involving RE & H Collins as lead partner, with contributions from Redpath Solar Energy Solutions Ltd, Kevin Fryer, Stephen Povall, Corfton Farms, Phil Mann, Bedstone Poultry Ltd, and additional commercial farming partners supporting trial delivery and data capture. Project facilitation is being provided independently by Dr Rachel McGauley.
RE & H Collins is providing farmer-led project direction and commercial coordination.
Redpath Solar Energy Solutions Ltd is supporting the scientific and analytical work around engineered biochar, litter performance and technical interpretation.
Kevin Fryer, Stephen Povall at Corfton Farms, Phil Mann at Bedstone Poultry Ltd, and additional farm partners are supporting trial hosting, implementation and practical data capture.
The project combines farmer knowledge, poultry-site testing and scientific analysis to evaluate whether engineered biochar can work as a practical on-farm intervention.
The public description of the project is structured around material development, commercial trials, technical and economic assessment, dissemination, and project management.
In public terms, that means developing the material, testing it under controlled conditions, applying it in commercial broiler environments, analysing environmental and practical results, and then sharing the findings in grower-friendly formats.
If successful, the project will help show whether engineered biochar can support meaningful ammonia reduction under commercial poultry conditions.
The trials are designed to explore whether improvements in litter condition can support better in-shed conditions for birds and better practical management for growers.
The project is intentionally focused on a practical drop-in approach that can be assessed for real-world uptake rather than remaining as a laboratory-only concept.
RESNI can support projects that need scientific framing, technical analysis, environmental strategy and better communication between practical delivery partners.
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