Source
https://www.biogas.org.nz/documents/resource/Information-Sheets/IS67_Digestate-as-Biofertiliser.pdf — original source (opens in a new tab; the file is not redistributed)
BANZ — Digestate as a Biofertiliser (Information Sheet 67 + DBPAS-05)
The NZ primary behind CR_041's digestate regulatory framing
Authoritative NZ industry-body guidance (Bioenergy Association NZ). Qualitative — establishes the biofertiliser definition + regulatory pathway; the quantitative NPK figures come from the separate Frontiers 2018 primary.
Summary
BANZ Information Sheet 67 (Jan 2025) and the companion DBPAS-05 Guidelines establish how anaerobic-digestion digestate is classified and used as a biofertiliser in NZ. Digestate (AD residue from non-sewage organic matter) is distinguished from biosolids (AD residue from municipal sewage, which carry stricter land-application limits). Digestate meeting the DBPAS-05 quality criteria is termed a biofertiliser and meets the fertiliser definition under the ACVM Act 1997; digestate that does not comply may only be land-applied as a biosolid under regional-plan rules.
Key claims
- claim: "Digestate vs biosolids: 'biosolids' is the residue from anaerobic treatment of municipal SEWAGE (stricter regulatory land-application limits to manage human/livestock/environment health risk); 'digestate' is the AD residue from OTHER organic matter (food-processing residues, crop residues, manures, source-segregated municipal organic waste). Both can be beneficially used as soil fertiliser/conditioner. Digestate meeting specified quality limits is suitable for safe land use and is called 'biofertiliser'. (Compost = organic soil improver; AD biofertiliser = organic fertiliser.)"
source_location: "BANZ IS67 p.1-2 (definitions; 'Application of biofertiliser to land')"
- claim: "NZ regulatory pathway: Technical Guide 8 (TG08, 'The production and use of digestate as fertiliser') sets the criteria and builds on the UK PAS110 specification; the DBPAS-05 Guidelines define when digestate from source-segregated materials is safe to apply to land. Digestate meeting DBPAS-05 'meets the definition of being a fertiliser under the Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines (ACVM) Act 1997 and meets specific legislative standards.' Digestate that does NOT meet the Guidelines may be land-applied only if it complies with the biosolid requirements in the relevant local Regional Plan. BANZ runs a Digestate Biofertiliser Producer Accreditation Scheme and is working with the Fertiliser Quality Council toward Fertmark certification."
source_location: "BANZ IS67 p.2-3 ('Regulations applying to application of organics to land'; 'Accreditation')"
- claim: "Agronomic benefits of digestate biofertiliser (BANZ): provides a sustainable, recycled nutrient source (organic material that would otherwise go to landfill); lowers GHG emissions (landfill diversion + reduced reliance on conventional fertiliser + stable soil organic matter + co-produced biogas); MOST of the nitrogen is present as AMMONIA, highly accessible to plants, plus organic nitrogen released slowly via mineralisation (short- and long-term nutrient supply); residual organic matter improves soil water-holding and soil health. (Qualitative — no NPK figures given; consistency/quality underpinned by the accreditation scheme.)"
source_location: "BANZ IS67 p.4 ('The benefits of using digestate biofertiliser')"Neobiome Intelligence relevance
The authoritative NZ primary for the digestate side of anaerobic_digestion and D03 — establishes that a Neobiome community’s digestate is a legitimate biofertiliser (ACVM-Act fertiliser if DBPAS-05-compliant; else a biosolid under regional-plan rules), substituting for synthetic fertiliser and closing the nutrient loop. Underpins CR_041 (which cited it). The quantitative NPK values are in the companion Frontiers 2018 primary.
Notes
Two filed PDFs: banz_is67_digestate-biofertiliser.pdf (the readable summary, Jan 2025) + banz_dbpas05_digestate-guidelines.pdf (the detailed Guidelines). data_quality high (NZ industry-body authority, retrieved direct from biogas.org.nz). TG08 (the detailed Technical Guide) and the UK PAS110 specification it builds on are referenced but not retrieved here.
Connections
Links to
Sources (1): CR_041
Technologies (1): Biogas (community-scale,…
Referenced by
Sources (1): CR_041
EDT domains (1): D03: Water, Waste & Circular Systems
Technologies (1): Biogas (community-scale,…