Shelby Bioenergy · October 2026 · Australia
Building confidence in digestate fertiliser
Farmers need clear product categories, nutrient and contaminant testing, traceability and application guidance. Shelby recommends recovery and storage support, local trials and Australian adaptation of quality-linked end-of-waste principles to strengthen customer confidence.
Shelby’s position, not adopted government policy or confirmation of lodgement. Historical evidence and policy-modelling assumptions are distinguished in the response.
The official consultation question
Q50 · §4.7.1(c) · paper page 35
What regulatory or policy changes would most strengthen market confidence in digestate as a fertiliser or soil amendment?
Shelby’s response
The priority is to give producers and farmers a clear understanding of what qualifies as a safe, useful and consistently supplied product. We recommend defined product categories linked to feedstock and treatment, consistent nutrient and contaminant testing, traceability, clear labelling and practical application guidance. Support for separation, nutrient recovery and suitable storage should help existing facilities meet these requirements and develop products matched to local agricultural demand.
England’s anaerobic digestate resource framework offers a useful precedent, connecting eligible inputs, quality standards, independent certification and suitable use with end-of-waste status. Australia should adapt these principles to local soils, crops and biosecurity conditions, supported by independent field trials and farmer demonstrations.
Frequently asked questions
What is Shelby’s position on building confidence in digestate fertiliser?
Farmers need clear product categories, nutrient and contaminant testing, traceability and application guidance. Shelby recommends recovery and storage support, local trials and Australian adaptation of quality-linked end-of-waste principles to strengthen customer confidence.
What should a project team read alongside this answer?
Read the linked commercial guides and original question. Separate the response’s recommendations and illustrative assumptions from source-reported operating evidence.
Sources & References
- Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, National Renewable Gas Policy consultation
Publication: Date not verified
Observation period: Not recorded
Relevant page / section: Claim-level locator not yet verified
Last link / title verification: 2026-10-11
Publisher link checked; individual claims, costs and regulatory applicability still require review.
Check scope and current applicability before relying on this reference.
- Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, National Renewable Gas Policy consultation paper
Publication: 2026-08
Observation period: Australia; 2026 consultation
Relevant page / section: Consultation questions; use answer-specific paper page and question reference
Last link / title verification: 2026-10-11
Publisher link checked; individual claims, costs and regulatory applicability still require review.
Source for questions/context, not proof of an implemented support mechanism. Question text attribution: Commonwealth, CC BY 4.0, as noted in Shelby’s supplied consultation response.
- Creative Commons, Attribution 4.0 International
Publication: Date not verified
Observation period: Not recorded
Relevant page / section: Claim-level locator not yet verified
Last link / title verification: 2026-10-11
Publisher link checked; individual claims, costs and regulatory applicability still require review.
Check scope and current applicability before relying on this reference.