Environmental safety aspects of using the digestate from an agricultural biogas plant

This review aims to summarize research findings and provide an up-to-date assessment of the current state of knowledge on the environmental safety of digestate, including its effects on soil, crop yields and animal health. Topics covered include the potential benefits and drawbacks of using digestate as a fertilizer. In recent years, the biogas industry in Europe has experienced significant growth. Many countries are actively promoting biogas production as a means to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and achieve renewable energy targets. As a result, there has been a corresponding increase in the production of digestate remaining after the anaerobic digestion of organic waste. Digestate is a source of growing concern due to its potential adverse effects on the environment, specifically concerning soil quality and the risk of nutrient runoff. A number of studies have been conducted in European countries to assess the safety of digestate for the environment and identify ways to reduce its negative impact.