Food producers and renewable energy campaigners came together for a roundtable discussion and meal to encourage more farmers to produce wind energy.
The Great British Wind Meal was hosted by celebrity chef and food campaigner Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and trade body RenewableUK.
RenewableUK deputy chief executive Maf Smith said in many cases wind power provides a vital source of income for farmers.
He said: “Today’s Great British Wind Meal highlights just a few of the many British farmers and food producers using wind power to reduce their energy bills, lower their carbon footprint and in many cases provide a vital source of income.
“The stories showcased here demonstrate how living in one of the windiest nations in Europe is an opportunity to be embraced, providing both economic and environmental prosperity. I hope their positive experiences encourage other farmers to take advantage of this home-grown asset.”
Produce for the meal was provided by several UK farmers and growers who are already using, or have plans to use, wind power to generate extra income.
These included potato supplier Greenvale, which has permission for a 110-metre wind turbine, expected to be running by September 2014. Vegetable supplier Vine House Farm has eight wind turbines and 200KW of solar panels on various roofs.
Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall said: “The idea of seeing [wind power] as an additional 'crop' for farmers is an intelligent and timely one, and that's why I'm delighted to be part of this RenewableUK event.”
Environment adviser for the Southwest NFU Paul Cottington, said wind power makes up about a quarter of the enquiries coming into the NFU Farm Energy Service.
“NFU strongly endorses farmers diversifying into many kinds of renewable energy which can support profitable agricultural production, with a particular preference for farmer-owned small-to-medium scale projects such as single wind turbines,” he said.
There are around 24,000 small and medium wind turbines in the UK used by farmers and small businesses to create their own sources of power, and reduce energy bills.
Farmers earn between £12,000 and £50,000 a year from their own wind energy according to research done by NatWest, RBS and RenewableUK earlier this year.
The small and medium onshore wind sector employs over 3,300 people in the UK and employment increased by 310 per cent between 2010 and 2013.
The event came in a week when the government announced spending cuts for onshore wind and solar energy, but said it will increase investment in offshore wind.
Chief secretary to the treasury Danny Alexander described the shift in subsidy as 'a rebalancing' and said overall spending would not change.
However, reducing support of onshore wind may result in the loss of smaller wind farms such as those promoted by the Great British Wind Meal event.
Wind power produced offshore is more expensive and is likely to attract larger businesses.
Smith said he welcomed increased financial support for offshore wind but said that any reduction in support for onshore wind is unwelcome.
“Obviously any reduction in support for onshore wind is unwelcome, and the Government had promised that any drop would be based purely on economic evidence. Onshore wind is the most cost-effective form of renewable energy we have, so if we want to keep energy bills as low as possible, we need to ensure the level of support is right.
“The reduction means that some smaller projects such as community-led schemes will be lost. If this cut has been made for political reasons rather than economic ones that would be a worry.”
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