MF Nurseries is to spend €1.8m expanding its tomato growing facility in Swords, Co. Dublin, with the development of new greenhouse facilities powered by Gas Networks Ireland.
Switching to natural gas as the primary source of energy will reduce the company’s carbon emissions by up to 10%, and almost 90% of the remaining emissions will then be captured an absorbed by the tomato plants, thanks to its innovative greenhouse system.
Gas Networks Ireland has now completed a 2km connection to connect the facility to the national gas network allowing MF Nurseries, which trades as Flynn’s Irish Tomatoes, to move ahead with its expansion plans.
MF Nurseries managing director Martin Flynn said investing in the new gas connection allowed the company to deliver on its business objectives both affordably and sustainably.
‘Our customers want to see the steps we are taking to reduce our carbon footprint,’ he said. ‘Major retailers only work with suppliers who are driving down their emissions. ‘Switching to natural gas, in tandem with our own natural carbon-capture process, is helping us to achieve that in a very organic way.’
Gas Networks Ireland large industrial and commercial sales manager Sean Crowley said more and more businesses are turning to gas to reduce their immediate and long-term carbon footprints.
Read more at Extra (George Morahan)