A new environmental infrastructure project at Casino is set to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from one of the state’s key agricultural facilities, marking a major step forward for sustainable food production.
Casino Food Company (CFC), in partnership with LMS Energy, will soon start construction on the Casino Biohub, an advanced wastewater treatment facility at CFC’s livestock processing operations in Casino.
The project will use anaerobic digestion to treat abattoir effluent, capturing methane-rich biogas that would otherwise be released into the atmosphere, and safely destroying it via flaring to reduce emissions.
LMS Energy Co-CEO, Matthew Falzon, said ‘methane is a highly potent greenhouse gas – up to 86 times more powerful than carbon dioxide over the short term – making its reduction the fastest way to slow global warming.
‘Abattoir effluent is a substantial contributor to CFC’s carbon footprint, and this project is expected to reduce emissions by up to 35 per cent,’ Mr Falzon said.
He says the project demonstrates how proven technology can deliver immediate and meaningful emissions reductions for Australian industry.
‘This is a practical application of anaerobic digestion that delivers real outcomes – reducing emissions while improving environmental performance on site for CFC,’ he said.
‘Projects like this show how industry can take practical steps today to support Australia’s transition to a lower emissions future.’
Sustainability step
Casino Food Company Chairman, Lennard Blok, says the Biohub forms a key part of the company’s sustainability strategy. ‘This is a significant investment in reducing our environmental footprint and improving how we manage wastewater across our operations,’ he said.
‘The project is expected to deliver a reduction of around 35,000 tonnes of carbon equivalent emissions each year, which is the same as removing around 11,200 cars from the road, or planting more than 476,000 trees.
‘By capturing and destroying the biogas, we can avoid more than 98 per cent of Scope 1 emissions associated with effluent treatment at the facility.’
Mr Blok said the project reflects CFC’s commitment to sustainable and responsible production. ‘As a regional business, we are committed to continuous improvement and ensuring the long-term sustainability of our operations,’ he said.
Plans to capture energy in future
The Biohub will be constructed on CFC’s San Marla farm and will integrate with the facility’s existing wastewater treatment and irrigation systems.
The infrastructure includes a 50 million litre covered anaerobic lagoon and an industry-leading biogas flare, designed to safely destroy captured greenhouse gases while creating a controlled treatment environment.
A second stage of the project is planned to convert the captured biogas into electricity to power onsite infrastructure, further advancing the site’s sustainability outcomes.
Construction is due to start next week, with the Biohub expected to be operational by the first quarter of next year.
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