A group of international engineers and scientists who developed a “system that mimics nature to clean water” have potentially produced a “low-cost, innovative technology” to tackle blue-green algae that has long been decimating the health of Northern Ireland’s waterways.
But according to MLA Jonathan Buckley, the DAERA Minister Andrew Muir will not give it “the time of day”.
The South African company behind the technology, Bio-Aire has a base in Dungannon, where they have been working on the solution that they say will tackle the problem “without harming the future of farming”.
MLA Jonathan Buckley met with Bio-Aire company representatives last week to find out more and see the equipment in operation.
Introducing the system via a video posted on his social media, the Upper Bann MLA hit out at the apparent lack of interest from the Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA).
He said: “You would expect the DAERA Minister Andrew Muir to be exploring every possible solution. But when a Dungannon-based company developed low-cost, innovative technology to tackle the crisis, without harming the future of farming – the Minister hasn’t given it the time of day.
“I visited the company today. Their solution deserves serious attention. So why is it being ignored?”
Speaking on the severity of the pollution, he added: “Blue green algae is a huge problem facing fresh water lakes right across the world. It’s happening to us here in Northern Ireland with Lough Neagh, so you would think that this Department of Agriculture and the Minister would be focused on solutions, any form of solution, any idea that has the potential to solve the crisis facing our waterways… well you would be wrong.
“Because I’m down here in Dungannon today with a company that has a low cost, technological and manufacturing solution that could help to deal with this very problem. What was the Minister’s response? He didn’t want to even give it a fair hearing, it was bucked out of the system and he ensured that it was never talked about again.”
Saying “fair play” to the company, MLA Buckley asked the Minister: “Why not give this a fair hearing and why not try any potential solution which deals with this problem?”
Clearly enthusiastic about the ingenuity of the system, MLA Buckley told Armagh I: “It is not only an aerator, the unit combines Biological Nutrient Removal and Aeration to remove nutrients from the water body and starve the algae.”
In the last year, the crisis has been met with proactive campaigns to help combat the problem. In August 2024, the DAERA Minister launched phase one of a £450K Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) to explore environmentally friendly solutions to combat the spread of blue-green algal blooms.
Phase one was designed to select five applicants to develop proof of concepts, with Phase Two then exploring two to three concepts selected where they would be developed as potential pilot solutions.
Speaking at the time of Phase One’s launch, Minister Muir said: “I am pleased to announce the launch of Phase One of the Lough Neagh: Blue-Green Algae Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI), supported by funding from both my Department and the Department for the Economy.
“We all have a responsibility to work collectively to deliver sustainable solutions to address the issues facing Lough Neagh and to return it to its rightful state as an ecological jewel at the heart of Northern Ireland.
“I understand that this SBRI initiative will not fully address the Blue-Green Algae problems, however it will contribute, along with the other actions contained in the Lough Neagh report, to help deliver my vision to have a healthy, resilient environment with high water quality status and environment standards thereby contributing to the health and wellbeing of our citizens.”
DAERA contributed £200,000 towards the initiative, with the Department for the Economy (DfE) contributing £250,000 through its SBRI Challenge Fund. The competition attracted considerable interest nationally and internationally, with almost 200 initial expressions of interest and 53 actual bids being received, from which the five successful applicants were drawn following a rigorous evaluation process.
Phase One ran through to March 2025 and the five successful organisations were announced as Clear Water Systems Ltd, Helix8 Ltd, Queen’s University Belfast, Varicon Aqua Solutions Ltd, Wholeschool Software Ltd (Biild).
Speaking following an introductory meeting with the five successful suppliers, Minister Muir said: “I am pleased to welcome the five successful suppliers for phase one of the Lough Neagh: Blue Green Algae Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI), which is supported by funding from both my Department and the Department for the Economy.
“This first phase of the initiative is intended to demonstrate the technical feasibility of a proposed concept and its viability as a solution to help tackle Blue Green Algae in Lough Neagh and can hopefully be applied to any area that has been affected by the bacteria.
“However, we must remember, this alone will not solve the Blue Green Algae crisis. This initiative is only one action outlined in my 37-point Lough Neagh Report and Action Plan, which paves the way forward for improved water quality and reduced Blue Green Algae.
“There is a significant amount of work to do to restore the lough and enhance water quality throughout Northern Ireland. This will take both time and resources. Water quality issues at Lough Neagh and elsewhere were decades in the making and will take decades to fix. It is my vision to have a healthy, resilient environment with high water quality status and I am firmly committed to take the necessary action to make a difference to our waterways.”
While Bio-Aire are not listed among the five organisations selected in Phase One of the research initiative, the MLA feels strongly that their concept should not be ignored.
In a response from DAERA, a spokesperson said: “Minister Muir has been open to innovative solutions that will tackle the blue-green algae blooms in Lough Neagh and secure longer-term improvements in water quality across Northern Ireland, particularly through the Lough Neagh Blue-Green Algae Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) which the Minister launched last year.
“The competition process was managed on behalf of DAERA by the Strategic Investment Board (SIB) and DAERA was the contracting body in this procurement.
“There was considerable market interest in Phase One, which was an open competition and widely advertised, attracting diverse interest from around the world. The competition closed on Friday September 13, 2024 and unsuccessful applications were provided with a choice to avail of feedback.
“The chosen projects being taken forward in Phase Two will be announced in the near future.
“Whilst there are no quick fixes, Minister Muir is determined to turn the tide on water quality by delivering the actions set out in the Lough Neagh Report and Action Plan in partnership with others, recognising that collective action is essential.”
