Who is the Avara Foods poultry group?

We allege that the industrial scale poultry operations of the Avara Foods poultry group is the single largest source of river pollution:

• Over the last ten years, poultry numbers in the area have risen from less than 13 million in 2013, to just over 20 million by 2021. We understand that the Avara Foods Poultry Group is responsible for around 75% of these birds.
• The consequence of this rapid growth in poultry farming has been a corresponding increase in the volume of phosphate-rich chicken manure, which is spread on land by farmers across the catchment. It is understood that due to the land in the region already being oversaturated in phosphorus, the phosphorus, along with other nutrients from the manure run off into the rivers Wye, Lugg and Usk.

The high concentration of intensive poultry units has also had an alleged impact on neighbouring properties, which are affected by the smells, noise and insects caused by intensive poultry farming.

The Avara Foods Poultry Group rejects the allegations.