Market potential
Challenges and Opportunities in Biofertilizer Commercialization
Biofertilizers are environmentally friendly alternatives to chemical fertilizers and are becoming increasingly important for sustainable farming. They help improve soil health and plant growth by using beneficial microorganisms. New technologies allow biofertilizers to be designed for specific crops and soil needs, making them more effective. Advances such as improved microbial mixtures and nanotechnology are helping biofertilizers work better and last longer. Overall, biofertilizers offer a promising and sustainable way to support global food production.
Challenges-and-Opportunities-in-Biofertilizer-Commercialization-.pdfRevolutionising European farming with sustainable fertilisers
The CBE JU-funded SUSFERT project addresses the need to develop more sustainable fertilisers for European agriculture. It develops novel fertiliser components from renewable waste and by-products and integrates them into fertilisers that supply nutrients to crops gradually. This reduces the quantity of fertiliser required and, at the same time, allows for averting soil and groundwater contamination from nutrients.
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Developing Market Pathways for Digestate Valorisation
Digestate offers significant economic benefits for farmers by reducing reliance on synthetic fertilisers and cutting transportation costs thanks to on-site availability. As its market grows, digestate commercialisation can generate additional income while supporting soil health, crop productivity, and climate-resilient farming. Upgrading technologies further enhance value by concentrating nutrients and enabling cost-efficient transport from surplus to deficit areas. From a marketing perspective, biogas plant operators must tailor product design, distribution channels, and pricing to different customer groups. While untreated digestate is commonly supplied directly to nearby farms, upgraded and standardised products open access to high-value markets such as private gardeners, where prices are significantly higher and must cover processing and marketing costs.
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Assessment of willingness-to-pay for bio-based fertilisers among farmers and agricultural advisors in the EU
Modern agriculture relies heavily on mineral fertilizers, yet their intensive use causes environmental impacts and depends on raw materials that are unevenly distributed and vulnerable to global price fluctuations. Bio-based fertilizers, produced from recycled organic waste streams, offer a more circular and sustainable alternative for Europe. This study analyzed farmers’ and advisors’ willingness to pay using the Van Westendorp pricing method, providing insights into price sensitivity for new bio-based products. Results indicate that a 30–46% price discount compared to mineral fertilizers would maximize market share, while matching mineral fertilizer prices would maximize revenue. These findings support the development of effective marketing strategies and business models for emerging bio-based fertilizers.
Assessment-of-willingness-to-pay-for-bio-based-fertilisers-among-farmers.pdf