Farming will continue to play a key role in the government's recycling push despite a decision to slash funding for its Waste and Resource Action Programme.

WRAP, established in 2000 and since incorporated into DEFRA, has fallen foul of that department's budget crisis, which is likely to trigger a £1bn cut in spending over the next three years.

As a result, WRAP's budget will fall by 20-30% in 2008, leaving an estimated £50-60m to fund its recycling activities.

However, much of that money will be saved by cutting overheads, shelving projects nearing maturity, as well as cutting back on some new recycling initiatives, said Maggie Newton, marketing manager of Organics, WRAP's compost development arm. "We shall also look at co-funding in some areas of our project work."

WRAP Organics' key aims, to reduce the amount of food thrown away by consumers and going into landfill by promoting its conversion to anearobic digestate or compost, remains. And the organisation, which started off promoting green composting, mainly garden waste, aims to boost its activity in the waste food area by including processor and retailer waste.

Farmers are set to play a vital role, said Anne O'Brien, key account manager. "Our capital support scheme is our biggest activity in terms of investment this year, and we hope to get applications from the farming sector." Further details will follow this spring.

WRAP is working with crop consultants to assess nutrient levels of the various products, and is also talking to agronomy organisations with the aim of developing trials to pinpoint suitability, correct application rates and appropriate markets.