Anaerobic digestate, the by-product of anaerobic digestion (AD), offers a solution that can give farmers a competitive edge.
Modern Irish farmers face significant challenges, ranging from market volatility and stricter environmental regulations to policy uncertainty, labour shortages and access to land.
These can make it difficult to achieve consistent production levels and keep farms sustainable into the future.
Anaerobic digestate
Digestate is a low-cost source of natural fertiliser that can improve soil health and increase productivity while reducing the need for costly synthetic fertilisers.
As one farmer stated in a comment on a recent Facebook post by Agriland: “Farmers who know what they are doing are only delighted to swap slurry for digestate… I know plenty of farmers taking it direct from [an] AD plant and can’t get enough of it.”
Digestate beats synthetic fertilisers
Synthetic fertilisers enhance crop productivity and soil fertility—in the short term. But using them continuously over time can degrade soil matter and decrease crop productivity.
Overusing them hardens soil, reduces fertility, causes pollution and weakens microbial activity in the cropping system.
The alternative, digestate, has a balanced nutrient profile that contributes to healthier soils in the long-term and better crop growth than synthetic fertilisers.
The exact nutrient profile of digestate depends on the kind of waste feedstock used, but all digestate contains organic matter, phosphorus, nitrogen and other trace nutrients.
The nutrients in digestate are easier for crops to absorb than those of synthetic fertilisers. This means crops get greater access to more of the nutrients they need to thrive, which can increase a farm’s productivity.
Cut fertiliser costs AND simplify waste management
Along with improving plant health and soil quality, digestate also costs less and has more price stability than synthetic fertilisers.
As farmers know, the price of synthetic fertilisers is subject to volatile global markets. It spiked significantly in 2022, and though it’s halved since then, the price jump has significantly increased the cost of doing business while raising food prices around the world.
Because it’s produced locally using readily available organic waste, digestate offers a stable (both in terms of price and availability) and cost-effective alternative to chemical fertilisers. It can also be significantly less expensive in terms of waste management and input costs.
Instead of leasing additional land or investing in costly storage infrastructure, farmers can simply transport slurry to a nearby AD plant, where it will be used to produce carbon-neutral biomethane.
For CycleØ partners, digestate left over from the AD process is available as a low-cost source of natural fertiliser, which decreases the need for costly and unpredictable synthetic fertilisers.
Simplify nitrate management and build community support
The nitrates in digestate are easier for crops to absorb than those of raw slurry or synthetic fertilisers. When applied to crops at appropriate times in suitable quantities, digestate can support plant nutrient uptake more efficiently.
This reduces the risk of excess nitrates entering bodies of water making it easier to comply with regulations like the nitrates directive and future changes to laws like the nitrates derogation and ReNure.
Along with simplified compliance, strategically using digestate to reduce nitrate pollution can make farming more environmentally responsible and enhance a farm’s reputation in the community.
Community members who are aware of a farmer’s sustainable agriculture practices that protect their watersheds are more likely to offer the farmer their support.
Four reasons why smart farmers choose digestate
As we’ve explored, digestate offers farmers significant benefits over synthetic fertilisers and raw manure. Let’s quickly review the top reasons smart farmers are choosing digestate.
- While synthetic fertilisers degrade soil over time, digestate offers a balanced nutrient profile that builds healthier soils, improving crop health and farm productivity for the long-term;
- Because it’s locally produced using plentiful organic waste, digestate is a cheaper and more price-stable alternative to costly synthetic fertilisers;
- Supplying slurry to an AD plant and spreading digestate instead of raw slurry reduces the need to lease additional land or invest in expensive storage facilities. That makes waste management simpler and more cost-effective.
- The nitrates in digestate are easier for crops to absorb than those of slurry or synthetic fertilisers. When applied appropriately to crops, digestate reduces nitrate pollution and makes compliance with nitrate regulations easier.
Explore how partnering with CycleØ to provide slurry can give you low-cost access to the benefits of digestate.
