March 27, 2008

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Cargill to convert waste to energy on two hog farms in the Philippines

SINGAPORE – Cargill today announced the commissioning of two anaerobic digester projects on two sites of the La Filipina hog operation in Bulacan, Luzon, the Philippines. Every year, the digesters will capture 910 metric tons of methane gas emanating from the pig manure; this gas will then generate 8,800 megawatts of electricity over 10 years. For the same period, the project will reduce a greenhouse gas equivalent of 190,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide. Co-products from the process and digested solids will serve as organic fertilizers to enrich the site’s surrounding farmlands.

Cargill Environmental Finance (CEF) will manage the project, which will generate carbon credits under the Kyoto Protocol’s Clean Development Mechanism.

“We are excited to be working with Cargill to develop this innovative means of manure waste management,” said La Filipina Uygongco Corporation Managing Director Gerald Jone Uygongco. “The digester will substantially reduce odors while creating a renewable energy source which will help us in reducing our overall operating costs. Cargill has taken up the responsibility to develop, finance and implement the project, including managing of all permitting and registration issues. That allows us to concentrate on what we’re here for, which is to reinforce our position in the hog business in the region.”

CEF Asia General Manager, Michael Loefler, adds, “La Filipina is taking a proactive approach to environmental stewardship. This project demonstrates La Filipina’s commitment for responsible hog farm management. It sets a new standard for the hog industry in Southeast Asia and elsewhere.”