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Perspectives on new technologies built on anaerobic digestion: insights from Idaho
Summary
Researchers examined the potential of anaerobic digestion and stacked technologies, including biochar, hydrochar, and bioplastics production, to benefit dairy producers in Idaho by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and generating value-added products. Using a diffusion of innovations framework augmented with economic analysis, the study assessed barriers and drivers for adoption of these technologies in rural agricultural settings.
Abstract The adoption of anaerobic digesters (ADs) and technologies stacked with them (AD+) has the potential to offer benefits to dairy producers and the environment. Production of biochar, hydrochar, and bioplastics can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, offer economic benefits to farmers through the sale of value-added products, reduce the need for fertilizer purchases, and promote a circular economy for dairy producers. We use a diffusion of innovations framework augmented to include economic, environmental, social, and regulatory considerations in addition to the operational aspects of the technologies. We conducted interviews with 21 participants representing for-profit, not-for-profit, governmental, and community service agencies in Idaho, the third-largest U.S. dairy state. Semi-structured interviews explored participants’ experiences with and perceptions of how relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, observability, trialability, environmental, economic, and social factors may facilitate or hinder the adoption of AD and three related emerging AD+ technologies. Interviews were analyzed using inductive coding and thematic analysis. Results show that participants were familiar with the need to address dairy manure waste and were interested in the potential benefits to farm revenue and the environment. However, the same factors associated with the relatively low adoption of AD in Idaho may also hinder the adoption of newer AD+ technologies. These include a lack of observability and trialability, installation and maintenance costs, access to technology, uncertain environmental impacts, unrealized economic benefits to dairy producers, and regulatory burden.