{"id":1018321,"date":"2025-08-06T12:56:29","date_gmt":"2025-08-06T09:56:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uabio.org\/?p=18321"},"modified":"2025-08-06T13:04:49","modified_gmt":"2025-08-06T10:04:49","slug":"portugaliya-legalizuvala-vykorystannya-dygestatu-yak-dobryva-yaki-perevagy","status":"publish","type":"uabio_document","link":"https:\/\/uabio.org\/en\/materials\/18321\/","title":{"rendered":"Portugal has legalized the use of digestate as fertilizer \u2014 what are the benefits?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Thus, the country has officially classified digestate \u2014 a nutrient-rich coproduct of anaerobic digestion (AD) \u2014 as a \u2018by-product\u2019 instead of \u2018residue\u2019.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the SAF platform, we have prepared a translation of a review by the WBA (World Biogas Association)<\/strong><\/a> on the prospects of such solution not only for the bioenergy sector, but also for the country as a whole.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Image source: Pexels.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

From a legal standpoint, this means that digestate can now be legally used as fertiliser in Portugal without being subject to waste management constraints, <\/strong>streamlining its application in agriculture and closing a key loop in the biogas value chain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why is this important?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

AD transforms organic waste \u2014 such as manure, food waste and wastewater sludge \u2014 into biogas and digestate. While biogas has multiple applications \u2014 including electricity and heat generation, use as a vehicle fuel, injection into the gas grid, or as a feedstock for producing refined green fuels \u2014 digestate also plays a vital role<\/strong>. It contains essential nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, making it a powerful biofertiliser.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, in much of the EU, digestate is still legally classified as a \u2018residue\u2019, which means it must undergo additional (often costly and bureaucratic) permitting to be applied to land. This classification undermines its value and contributes to project delays \u2014 for instance in countries like Spain, where permitting challenges are already significant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advantages<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Portugal\u2019s decision helps unlock the full circular potential of biogas, offering a multiple benefits:<\/p>\n\n\n\n