Regulatory compliance

Biogas digestate, a byproduct of anaerobic digestion, offers a valuable source of nutrients for sustainable agriculture but poses risks including nutrient overload, heavy metals, pathogens, antibiotics, microplastics, and other emerging contaminants. Current regulations, such as the EU limit of 170 kg N/ha/year, manage some risks, but controls for antibiotics, microplastics, and other chemicals remain limited. Expanding regulatory frameworks is recommended to ensure safe and sustainable use of digestate as fertilizer.

For a detailed overview of digestate characteristics, risks, and regulations, the full study can be accessed here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.177855

Bio-based fertilizers (BBFs) offer the EU a way to reduce reliance on imported mineral fertilizers by recycling nutrient-rich by-products, but their implementation remains complex. This study reviews current policies and previous research to provide insights for policymakers. While the EU Fertilising Products Regulation (FPR) sets rules for raw materials and product functions, compliance can be challenging for farmers and SMEs, though regional use under national regulations is still possible. Greater policy support is needed to improve public acceptance, adoption by farmers, and availability at competitive prices. The study also identifies research opportunities to support the further development and uptake of BBFs.