Advancing ACoD within the Red Meat Industry: Digestate quality assessment and standardisation

Challenges: Australia’s food processing industries, including red meat, face growing pressure to decarbonise and reduce the costs associated with organic waste management. Anaerobic co-digestion (ACoD) of red meat and other food industry by-products can generate renewable energy and nutrient-rich digestate. However, current regulatory frameworks classify digestate as biosolids, limiting its agricultural use and reducing its economic potential. Opportunities: This project builds on RACE for 2030, Australian Meat Processor Corporation, and Meat and Livestock Australia-supported research to address key barriers to ACoD uptake, including performance validation and regulatory acceptance. It will pilot the co-digestion of red meat and agricultural by-products, assess digestate performance in soil trials, and test nutrient recovery technologies. It will also provide science-based evidence to support the development of fit-for-purpose fertiliser standards through engagement with regulators. Impact: The project will enable food processors to convert organic by-products into renewable energy and high-value biofertiliser. It aims to support industry decarbonisation, promote circular resource use, and build confidence in ACoD through real-world performance and regulatory engagement.