About Us

Our background

The concept of adapting the emerging technology of Anaerobic Digestion (AD) and using it to create BIOGEN's new farm-based application was the brainchild of John Ibbett, Chairman of BIOGEN and of parent Bedfordia Group.

Back in 1980, John had identified AD as a potential means of dealing with slurries (animal herd waste) in an environmentally friendly manner whilst creating renewable energy and a valuable fertiliser. The technology at the time was unreliable and the economics difficult. However John was determined that such a solution was in line with the essential environmental principles of the Bedfordia Group and that they had an innate responsibility to make it work.

The concept was finally brought to fruition in 2002 when Andrew Needham (at that time Bedfordia's Farming division MD) made a study trip to Germany where AD was being pioneered but was still in its infancy. In Germany, biogas technology was being used differently to the way BIOGEN was to be developed. Farmed crops such as maize were being grown and harvested specifically for mixing with animal slurries in digestion plants, with the sole purpose of generating renewable electricity. To make this economically viable the process and the electricity prices were heavily subsidised by the German Government.

At that time, only a few German biogas plants were considering processing food waste alongside or instead of grown biomass. However with Bedfordia Farms seeking to invest in the development of its pig business, John and Andrew identified the opportunity to adapt this environmentally friendly technology to deal with the farm's slurry waste and at the same time develop additional revenue streams from gate receipts and the sale of electricity and high quality liquid bio-fertiliser.


The environmental and commercial benefits were obvious but it was clear that the development of the technology and a commercial model would require time, investment and the right people. The result was the formation of the BIOGEN business and the building of a strong team who have since made the concept a reality.

I feel immensely proud to work with a dedicated, committed and talented team - our people and our partners who have helped to create a commercially viable BIOGEN model that works and does what it says on the tin. I believe we also have the skills, finance, and organisation to roll out this model and deliver a realistic environmental solution for the whole of the country.

John Ibbett, CEO Bedfordia Group