EUROPEAN REGULATORY PRACTICES AND HANDLING OF DIGESTATE IN THE CONTEXT OF AGRO-ECOLOGICAL TRANSITION OF EU COUNTRIES WITHIN THE EUROPEAN GREEN DEAL

Abstract

Overcome the negative consequences of climate change and achieve climate neutrality in Europe by 2050. The author of the publication singles out waste-free biofuel production technologies as one of the most effective methods of circular economy, which turns waste into a valuable resource. The scheme of waste-free biofuel production technologies is given, due to which alternative sources of energy and organic fertilizers (digestate), are received. It is noted that scientists and practitioners, to a greater extent, pay attention to the study of biogas, and to a lesser extent to the by-product of its production – digestate. The European schemes of certification and regulation of the handling of digestate are analyzed. The volumes of digestate production from various raw materials in the countries of the European Union in 2021, as well as the volumes of raw materials required for its production, have been calculated. The largest digestate-producing countries among the countries of the European Union, which produce more than 1 million tons of digestate every year, are singled out. The main directions of the final use of digestate in the countries of the European Union are highlighted, among which the largest share is: application of raw digestate as a biofertilizer directly to the soil (67%); processing of the produced digestate before applying it to the soil (8%); applications in the «other uses» category, which include use in horticulture, soil production (for non-agricultural soils), covering solid waste landfills, etc. (8%). The average rates of applying raw digestate to the soil and the most common ways of applying it are given. The potential volume of digestate production in 2022 in the countries of the European Union is calculated and it is predicted that it can replace 5-6% of the use of mineral nitrogen fertilizers. The forecast for the production of digestate and its replacement of mineral fertilizers until 2030 and 2050 is also given. Due to the analysis of European practices of regulation and handling of digestate in the context of the agro-ecological transition of the countries of the European Union, within the European Green Course, a number of measures are proposed that should be taken by Ukraine for the implementation and harmonization of domestic legislation with European legislation in this field of activity.