Shelby Bioenergy · October 2026 · Australia
Digestate certification and agricultural trust
Independent digestate assurance can build agricultural trust when it verifies nutrients, contaminants, treatment and suitable application. Shelby recommends proportionate certification, shared testing, local agronomic trials and customer development alongside quality controls.
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
Q52 · §4.7.1(e) · paper page 35
Would a regulatory or certification framework help build trust and acceptance of digestate products among agricultural users?
Shelby’s response
Yes. A credible framework can turn variable material into a product farmers can assess and purchase confidently. It should provide independently verified information on nutrient content, contaminants, treatment, consistency and suitable application, supported by batch traceability and clear supplier responsibilities. Sweden’s voluntary SPCR 120 scheme illustrates this approach through eligible-input requirements, hygienisation controls, testing and independent inspections.
Shelby recommends proportionate certification costs, recognition of equivalent assessments across jurisdictions and shared testing services for regional clusters. Certification should be accompanied by local agronomic trials, application advice and buyer development. Together, these measures can help establish dependable agricultural outlets, strengthen co-product revenue and support further investment in Australian nutrient-recovery and fertiliser production.
Frequently asked questions
What is Shelby’s position on digestate certification and agricultural trust?
Independent digestate assurance can build agricultural trust when it verifies nutrients, contaminants, treatment and suitable application. Shelby recommends proportionate certification, shared testing, local agronomic trials and customer development alongside quality controls.
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.