Ecological Benefits of Anaerobic Digestion

The operation of an anaerobic digester on the poultry farm can generate multiple benefits in addition to its basic function for the treatment of animal waste. It generates biogas, which is a combustible fuel. The residue after digestion can be recovered as a solid by-product which has nutritional value as a feed supplement. The digestion process, especially at the thermophilic temperature, can destroy excreta-born pathogens and therefore protect environmental health. The liquid effluent with its nutrient content can support fish growth. With a simple and low cost anaerobic digester system that has been developed at North Carolina State University laboratories and poultry farm, the integrated operation may be economical. The energy, ecology, and environmental health-integrated farm is a new agricultural ecosystem called holistic farming.