Marchwood is the only UK laboratory to test for brominated dioxins in line with new legislation. This test, which helps to safeguard public health and protect the environment, is now a requirement for companies wishing to obtain permits for commercial incineration.
‘The EA legislation, which came into place on 1st January 2023, requires burning facilities for municipal solid waste to test twice a year to meet compliance,’ said Dave Elo, Senior Business Development Manager at Marchwood. ‘In 2022, we began developing a brand new test for brominated dioxins, as there was no lab in the UK that was offering this sort of analysis. There wasn’t even an accepted standard method for it yet. The implementation document that outlines how to convert the 1948 method is now out for brominated dioxins, and we have completed our in-house validation. The fact that we are still the only lab to be offering this service, despite the urgent need for it, shows the expertise and hard work of our teams and our determination to provide rapid, solutions for our customers.’
Marchwood’s brominated dioxins testing is part of its comprehensive range of analytical services for stack emissions. The test can be undertaken as a standalone service, or brominated dioxins can be analysed alongside chlorinated dioxins and PCBs as part of the same sampling train. By sampling them all at the same point, customers can save a significant amount of money and time.
‘The world is burning over ten times as many products with brominated flame retardants in them than chlorinated plastics,’ continued Dave. ‘While we have put a lot of emphasis on recycling plastics in the last few decades, products like domestic furniture, mattresses, toys, and carpets, which all contain brominated flame retardants, are usually taken to the dump and incinerated. This process has the potential to release brominated dioxins into the environment, which are highly toxic and move through soils and bypass water filtration systems without breaking down. This is why the EA has legislated that all burning facilities for municipal solid waste start regular brominated dioxin monitoring, and why we have developed this new test.’
‘As part of our goal to create value for our customers and support a safer, healthier planet, we are focussed on providing innovative solutions for new and evolving customer needs,’ said Declan Burns, Managing Director of Cawood’s Environment division. ‘The fact that we are the only lab to offer this test truly cements Cawood’s position as the UK’s leading scientific group. This is all thanks to the hard work and dedication of our teams, who take pride in continuously improving and developing unique solutions to problems.’
Marchwood provides a comprehensive analysis service for stack emissions. For more information, contact us.
ELAB has delivered its rapid 5 day turnaround on 98.5% of all contaminated land and water analysis so far in 2022. This reliable service helps clients consistently comply with regulations and meet strict timescales, making Cawood Environment the business of choice for specialist contaminated land and water analysis in the UK.
‘Our excellent reputation for rapid and timely delivery of results makes us the most reliable business in the industry,’ said Declan Burns, Managing Director of Cawood Environment. ‘Our 98.5% successful delivery rate is even more impressive when you consider that other laboratories promise the same turnarounds on analyses, but only deliver on them around 80% of the time. Most of our contaminated land clients are in the construction and development industries, which can be quite unpredictable. Developers often work to short timescales, so knowing they can have reliable 5 day turnaround at no extra cost is invaluable for our customers and their clients.’
Contaminated land analysis is important for environmental protection and structural maintenance. Continuously evolving environmental regulations means that there are legislative requirements to test land for contamination levels before it can be developed upon. Necessary remediation actions can then be taken to bring the land back to safe use.
Cawood Environment, a division of Cawood, provides a range of services to help developers achieve planning consent, remain compliant, and safeguard the environment. These soil, water, and leachate services include toxic metals, organic contaminants, persistent pollutants, soil/water quality indicators, gas/soil vapour, and asbestos screening and quantification analysis.
‘Success stories like these really cement Cawood’s reputation as the UK’s leading scientific group for the land-based industries,’ continued Declan. ‘All our teams at ELAB, Chemtech, and Marchwood work extremely hard day in, day out, to provide rapid and reliable services for our clients. We are proud of the relationships we have with our customers, and of this year’s consistently high success rate. We are committed to helping our customers meet their goals and maintain compliance whilst supporting a safer, healthier planet, and our dependable specialist contaminated land analysis and environmental services help us do just that.’
To read more about what our customers say about us and our turnaround times, click here.
Sciantec has added propyl gallate (E310) to its list of antioxidant analysis services for pet food and animal feed. Customers can now order a comprehensive suite of antioxidant testing that includes BHA, BHT and propyl gallate, making it simpler and easier to comply with regulations.
‘To improve its effectiveness as an antioxidant, propyl gallate is often used in conjunction with BHA and BHT,’ said Rachel Rawson, Business Development Executive at Sciantec. ‘We already provide antioxidant analysis services for BHA and BHT in pet food and animal feed. We’ve now made it possible to order analysis of all three antioxidants individually or as a comprehensive suite, depending on customer requirements. By helping determine safe levels of these antioxidants in animal food and feed products, we are not only making it easier for our customers to maintain compliance, but also safeguard the environment and the food chain.’
Antioxidants are additives put into food and feed to minimise the oxidation of fats and oils. In some countries, their use is limited or banned. EC regulation EC1831/2003 refers to the acceptable limits of propyl gallate in various species, which must be complied with in Europe.
‘At Sciantec, we want to give our customers as much choice as possible to help them meet their goals and remain compliant with governing bodies and trade regulations,’ continued Rachel. ‘By adding propyl gallate to our list of antioxidant analysis services, they are getting that choice with reliable and accurate tests that help them determine the levels in their products.’
‘The Cawood Group is dedicated to continuous improvement so that we can provide the very best services possible to meet our customers’ requirements,’ said Sean Stevenson, Cawood Agriculture’s Managing Director. ‘The team’s hard work to expand their services helps the business continue to cement itself as one of the UK’s leading providers of pet food and animal feed analysis whilst supporting a safer, healthier planet.’
For more details on our pet food and animal feed services, contact us.
With Christmas only a few weeks away, we would like to take this opportunity to thank all our customers for their business during 2022, and to let you all know of our operating arrangements over the holiday period.
Our laboratory and courier arrangements for Christmas and New Year are listed below. Please note that, while many of our business units close for a short period over the holidays, we also have specific cut off dates for the receipt of some sample types. Please check the details for each business unit.
For any enquiries, or to book in your samples, please speak to your usual Cawood contact.
NRM
Closed between Friday 23rd December at 12:30pm and Tuesday 3rd January. For full details of our laboratory and courier arrangements over the holiday period, click here.
Sciantec
Closed between Friday 23rd December at 12:30pm and Tuesday 3rd January. For full details of our laboratory and courier arrangements over the holiday period, click here.
Sci-Tech (Craven Arms)
Running a limited service between Wednesday 21st December and Tuesday 3rd January. For full details of our laboratory arrangements over the holiday period, click here.
Sci-Tech (Dungannon)
Closed between Friday 23rd December at 12:30pm and Thursday 29th December. For full details of our laboratory arrangements over the holiday period, click here.
IAS
Closed between Saturday 24th December and Tuesday 3rd January. For full details of our laboratory and courier arrangements over the holiday period, click here.
Marchwood (Manchester)
Closed between Friday 23rd December at 12:30pm and Tuesday 3rd January. For full details of our laboratory and courier arrangements over the holiday period, click here.
Marchwood (Southampton)
Closed between Friday 23rd December at 12:30pm and Tuesday 3rd January. For full details of our laboratory and courier arrangements over the holiday period, click here.
Enitial
All services running as usual.
ELAB
Closed between Friday 23rd December and Tuesday 3rd January. For full details of our laboratory and courier arrangements over the holiday period, click here.
Chemtech
Closed between Saturday 24th December and Tuesday 3rd January. For full details of our laboratory and courier arrangements over the holiday period, click here.
Sci-Tech has successfully validated a poultry vaccine differentiation test for Salmonella Enteritidis. This new service allows vets and poultry farmers to distinguish between wild and vaccine strains of Salmonella Enteritidis, helping farmers maintain compliance with the Lion Code and protect public health.
‘Salmonella vaccination is mandated for poultry farmers because of the potential threat to food safety,’ said David Petrie-Dolphin, Business Development Manager at Sci-Tech. ‘All eggs sold in supermarkets must be stamped with the Lion Code to show that they have been produced to the highest possible standards. To get this stamp, they need to adhere to all requirements of the Lion Code.
‘As part of the required Salmonella test, we are able to detect the presence of Salmonella Enteritidis and determine whether the strain is vaccinal or wild,’ David continued. ‘If no Salmonella is found, or the strain is vaccinal, then the farmer can continue to trade. If a wild strain is identified, then the farmer will have to get rid of the current batch and start over. So, our vaccine differentiation test helps them save time and money whilst safeguarding public health.’
The test detects the Salmonella Enteritidis vaccine using a chromogenic reaction. Any samples that have a positive Salmonella Enteritidis result can be further screened in the laboratory for differentiation. The new test is highly beneficial for Salmonella surveillance, as it confirms the presence of the vaccine strain for the CEVA Salmovac vaccine. Results are available within 48 hours to allow potential action to be taken as quickly as possible.
‘At Cawood, we are committed to helping our customers meet their goals whilst maintaining compliance. Developing and validating new solutions is a big part of this,’ said Sean Stevenson, Divisional Managing Director for Cawood Agriculture. ‘It also helps us further cement our position as the UK’s leading scientific group, supporting a safer, healthier planet.’
For more details on our Salmonella service, contact us.
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Rory Geldard, Commercial Manager at NRM, was a guest speaker on Farmers’ Weekly transition webinar. Discussions centred around generating revenue streams from carbon farming, as well as the benefits of soil carbon analysis.
‘Measuring, monitoring and managing is key to unlocking the carbon potential of your farm,’ Rory said on the webinar. ‘Establishing a baseline will give you an opportunity to maximise carbon sequestration. Then, consistent soil testing at the same time of year, at the same depth, means that you can improve soil health over time as well as the land’s ability to make you a living out of carbon opportunities. Using carbon as a source of income goes hand in hand with so many good sustainable farming practices. It’s a win-win situation.’
The webinar, titled “Risk and reward: How to make money out of carbon”, is part of the Farmers Weekly’s Transition project, which aims to ease farmers’ transitions to sustainable farming practices whilst remaining productive and profitable. It aired on Friday 16th September 2022 and was hosted by the Farmers Weekly Transition editor Johann Tasker. Rory spoke alongside other soil carbon experts, including Emily Norton, Head of Rural Research at Savills, David McCulloch, Head of CarbonStore at Tillhill Forestry, and Juan Palomares Carralero, EU Managing Director for Trinity AgTech. They discussed farm carbon audits, how opportunities can vary by farm system and soil type, carbon credits, and proving additionality.
‘It was a pleasure to participate in the Farmers Weekly Transition webinar alongside my fellow experts,’ said Rory. ‘It was a very interesting discussion, and I’m sure that farmers and advisors will find the points that we talked about useful in making decisions about their own farming businesses. In particular, I want to stress that carbon sequestration is long-term project, but it’s made much easier by committing to good soil management. That way, not only can farmers make a profit from carbon sequestration, but they will see increased yields and productivity too.’
NRM has analysed over 13,000 soil carbon samples in the last year with its comprehensive soil carbon analysis package, CarbonCheck, helping farmers increase productivity and profitability whilst committing to sustainable practices. It also provides benchmarks for lucrative carbon markets. CarbonCheck analyses inorganic carbon, C:N ratio, bulk density, organic carbon, total nitrogen, and total carbon as part of a comprehensive suite, as well as soil organic matter (SOM), which is required to qualify for the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI).
‘At Cawood, we are committed to helping our customers thrive whilst supporting a safer, healthier planet,’ said Sean Stevenson, Managing Director for Cawood’s Agriculture division. ‘We are proud to be sponsoring the Farmers Weekly Transition project to help benefit the agricultural industry as well as protect the environment. Well done to Rory and the other speakers for producing an incredibly interesting and insightful discussion, which I have no doubt will help farmers adopt sustainable farming practices and carve a new income stream at the same time.’
For more information on our CarbonCheck service, contact us using the form below.
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NRM has appointed Dr Sajjad Awan as its new company Agronomist to strengthen its technical team. He will join Alli Grundy, Agronomy Manager for NRM, in giving expert advice to the business’ farming customers to help them meet their goals.
‘Over the last 2 years, NRM has seen an increased need from their customers to interpret their analytical data successfully for better agronomic decisions,’ said Sean Stevenson, Divisional Managing Director of Cawood Agriculture. ‘Insightful data helps farmers increase yields, improve soil health, sequester carbon, and drive profit whilst supporting sustainable food production. We are looking forward to Sajjad joining the team and helping us to advise more customers and achieve their objectives.’
Sajjad has spent his career working in the agricultural sector. After gaining his doctorate at the University of Warwick, where he led several important crop nutrition focused projects, he became AHDB’s crop nutrition research and knowledge transfer manager. He played a major part in the development of AHDB’s Nutrient Management Guide (RB209) document, which helps guide all crop nutrition including fertiliser, manure, and slurry recommendations in the industry. Most recently, he has been the Company Agronomist for CF Fertilisers. Sajjad’s significant expertise in fertilisers, crop nutrient management and agronomy will provide NRM’s customers with more insightful data and guidance for optimal farm management and better decision making.
‘I am really looking forward to joining NRM in helping farmers improve productivity,’ said Sajjad. ‘The better the data, the better the decision making. As the leading laboratory for agricultural decision making in the country, NRM is the perfect business to enable me to help farmers understand their results so that they can improve soil management, increase yields, and enhance profitability. I am excited to be a part of the team and use my knowledge to help more farmers in any way that I can.’
‘We are delighted to welcome Sajjad to Cawood,’ said Simon Parrington, Cawood’s group CEO. ‘Our strategy for NRM to become the very best one stop shop for agricultural analytics, insights, and advice means that appointing accomplished leaders in agriculture is a top priority. This will help us deliver the utmost convenience and expertise for our customers. Both Cawood and our parent company, Ensign-Bickford Industries, are looking forward to working with and supporting Sajjad and the NRM team.’
CarbonCheck, NRM’s most sought after package, has been adopted and launched by IAS Laboratories for farmers and their advisors across Ireland. This comprehensive soil carbon testing service will help Irish farmers and growers measure, monitor, and benchmark their soil health and carbon levels to accurately assess progress on their carbon journey.
‘In the UK, over 12,000 samples have been analysed with CarbonCheck to date,’ said Rory Geldard, Commercial Manager at NRM. ‘As our most successful package, it’s been invaluable for the UK agricultural industry as it really benefits farming businesses and the environment. Like the UK, Ireland has committed to a significant reduction in emissions by the end of this decade. With IAS making CarbonCheck more readily available to Irish farmers, the business unit is helping make this goal a reality whilst providing insightful data to improve soil health in Ireland overall.’
CarbonCheck was developed last year by NRM and is now the industry standard for soil carbon analysis. It measures organic matter, inorganic carbon, C:N ratio, bulk density, organic carbon, total nitrogen, and total carbon as part of a comprehensive suite. These results combine to present carbon stock and organic carbon in tonnes per hectare. CarbonCheck Plus also includes active carbon for those aiming to improve soil health.
‘The Irish government is encouraging farmers to put soil carbon, soil health, and fertility at the centre of the country’s agriculture,’ said Eoin O’Brien, Head of Sales at IAS. ‘As land acts as a huge carbon sink, the agricultural industry is key in meeting Ireland’s goal of cutting down to 51% emissions by 2030, and innovative services like CarbonCheck help guide future farming activities and carbon sequestration. Ultimately, by measuring soil carbon we are helping farmers work sustainably and reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere whilst improving soil health to help maintain and increase yields. We are recommending that growers benchmark their fields now, and then test again next year to monitor their progress.’
CarbonCheck results are presented in an easy-to-understand format and are straightforward to interpret. NRM and IAS provide farmers and growers with advice on interpreting their results, as well as the next steps to take to mitigate the impact of their activities, improve soil health, and potentially enter lucrative carbon markets.
‘The teams at both IAS and NRM have worked incredibly hard over the last few months to ensure that this important service is available to both UK and Irish farmers,’ said Sean Stevenson, Divisional Managing Director for Cawood Agriculture. ‘CarbonCheck is the first and most comprehensive soil carbon testing service available to these farmers, cementing our position as the UK and Ireland’s largest provider of agronomic analytical services. We are proud to be leading the way in supporting the agricultural industry as well as the sustainable future of farming and a safer, healthier planet.’
For more details on our CarbonCheck service, visit IAS’ website or contact us below.
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Sciantec has updated its mycotoxin screening service and is now one of the few UK laboratories using LCMS/MS instrumentation. This service delivers more accurate, reliable results with a lower risk of false positives from matrix interference and highly coloured sample extracts.
‘Feed manufacturers test raw materials and finished feeds, which can include both previous season’s grain and new crop cereals. So, tests that are quicker, more streamlined, and more reliable are important all year round,’ said Steve Parks, General Manager at Sciantec.
‘Most laboratories use ELISA to screen for mycotoxins. This method is susceptible to false positives, as anything highly coloured can affect the generated results. It also covers a smaller range of matrices, making it less useful to our customers overall. Our move to LCMS/MS instrumentation provides customers with the fastest and most reliable service in the industry, giving them even more confidence in their results at this crucial time.’
Mycotoxins are naturally occurring toxins produced by certain moulds, which grow on a variety of crops and foodstuffs under warm and humid conditions. It is important to screen for mycotoxins as exposure can result in adverse health effects in livestock and humans alike.
This service targets feed, grain, grain derivatives, and premix materials, and reporting will remain in the same format customers are used to. Sciantec will continue to offer UKAS accredited mycotoxin analysis by HPLC as a separate service, which is also being updated over time as part of the business’ commitment to continuous improvement.
‘The Cawood Group is dedicated to delivering the most up-to-date services to help our customers meet their goals whilst supporting a safer, healthier planet,’ said Simon Parrington, Group Chief Executive Officer of Cawood.
‘The team has worked incredibly hard to improve the business’ services to safeguard livestock and protect the food chain from the very source. By providing innovative services that are not used by the industry at large, Sciantec has continued to cement itself as one of the UK’s leading providers of specialist ingredient and animal feed analysis.’
For more information or to book in your samples, contact us today.
Cawood has renewed its partnership with the Farmers Weekly Transition project, an initiative designed to help farmers shift to sustainable farming practices.
‘We support Farmers Weekly in its aim to help secure a sustainable future for agricultural and farming businesses throughout the UK,’ said Rory Geldard, Commercial Manager at NRM.
‘This year, we’re taking on an increased level of participation, which will allow us to share our expertise with an even larger audience. Cawood Agriculture delivers a wide variety of expert analytical services to farmers, landowners and their advisors, lots contributing to regenerative agriculture. For example, our soil organic matter analysis helps customers qualify for the Sustainable Farming Incentive, and CarbonCheck measures soil carbon levels and helps plan soil health improvements.’
To help farmers remain productive whilst shifting to sustainable farming practices, Farmers Weekly has been producing informative podcasts examining environmentally-friendly and sustainable farming methods and how to remain successful. A series of expert webinars and regular news roundups including Transition Specials are also available to help farmers stay up-to-date with the latest news and take advantage of the knowledge that has been pooled together by the industry.
‘Sharing knowledge and ideas that work makes a big difference to the industry’, continued Rory. ‘Information shared through the Transition activity will improve resilience, biodiversity, air and water quality, and carbon sequestration.’
‘Agriculture is in a unique position to protect and benefit the environment by adopting sustainable farming practices,’ said Sean Stevenson, Divisional Managing Director, Agriculture. ‘The Transition project is doing a fantastic job in helping farmers learn how to shift to sustainable farming practices without taking a hit to their productivity and profitability. We are proud to be a sponsor, as it reflects our commitment to increasing awareness of regenerative agriculture and helping farmers achieve it whilst supporting their own businesses.’
For more information on the project, visit their website.