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Opinions Jaap Uenk

Central digester solution for many dairy farmers

21 April 2026 - Jaap Uenk - 10 comments

Slightly more than half of the dairy farmers in our country have fewer than 100 dairy cows. The financial leeway on these farms for major investments in making operations more sustainable is limited. With central biogas plants in the region, these family businesses are better able to make the transition to future-proof operations.

First, some figures regarding the dairy sector. Over 90% of dairy farms in our country have fewer than 200 dairy cows (CBS, 2024). The share of farms with fewer than 100 dairy cows within this size class is 57%. In 2024, 87% of all dairy farms were required to dispose of manure. Without derogation, this percentage is currently higher. More farms mean more manure disposal. Pressure on the manure market remains high, and with it, the costs of manure disposal.

Scale size
Especially for the many family farms in the dairy sector that wish to continue operating, shared, central facilities are a boon for more sustainable business operations and manure disposal. The greatest advantage of a central biogas plant in the region is the ability to achieve an economically optimal scale with professional business operations. Through adjustments at lower costs and management measures, emissions of greenhouse gases and ammonia from barns and manure cellars decrease. The discharge of "fresh" manure goes to the central digester. The digestion of this manure yields much more than the manure stored for longer periods in manure cellars.

Due to a reduction in manure application capacity, increased manure disposal is necessary. The biogas plant serves as an additional sales channel. Processed Renure fertilizers from digestate can be utilized instead of synthetic nitrogen fertilizer. The solid fraction from the digestate can be centrally processed into exportable semi-finished or finished products for domestic and international markets. While the number of transports within the region will increase, this is offset by fewer long-distance transports to the arable farming regions.

Energy crisis
The current energy crisis calls for less dependence on energy from abroad. Millions of tonnes of manure are available as a raw material for the production of biogas. The upcoming biogas blending obligation for energy suppliers requires much more biogas than is currently produced nationally. Increased domestic production means less import of biogas is needed.

Despite all these advantages, however, central biogas plants are barely getting off the ground in the region. Mono-digesters at the farm level receive a lot of attention. This is excellent, provided they align with the entrepreneur and their business vision. The realization of central digesters is more complex; much more is involved.

Region-oriented approach
Such an approach primarily requires initiators. These individuals must develop organizational and implementation capacity, particularly in collaboration with professionals. Initiatives should preferably come from direct stakeholders, such as (dairy) livestock farmers and their agribusinesses. Together, they can then capitalize on the opportunities.

The national government and provinces must embrace and facilitate these initiatives. Their primary task is to determine suitable locations, permits, and subsidies. Specific provision for this must be included in visions and policy plans.

In my opinion, the proposed region-based approach is ultimately more effective for achieving the various goals set in a region. And cheaper than spending billions on reducing the livestock population. It helps the many family businesses in the dairy sector secure a better future.  

Jaap Uenk

Jaap Uenk is the owner of consultancy Mestem and has more than 40 years of experience in various positions in the Dutch fertilizer sector.

© DCA Market Intelligence. This market information is subject to copyright. It is not permitted to reproduce, distribute, disseminate or make the content available to third parties for compensation, in any form, without the express written permission of DCA Market Intelligence.

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10 comments
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Joop van Leijsen 21 April 2026
This is in response to it Boerenbusiness article:
[url = https: // www.boerenbusiness.nl/column/10915890/centrale-vergister-uitkomst-voor-veel-melkveehouders]Central digester solution for many dairy farmers[/url]
What solution is this for the livestock farmer himself? - A highly subsidized digester yields hardly any return. - The amount of manure remains the same or increases, so the surplus does too. - The nitrogen problem only gets bigger. - A small, unrealistic solution: reuse at very high costs.
Subscriber
juun 21 April 2026
So then you are missing out on too much manure trade?
Subscriber
blinders 21 April 2026
Joop van Leijsen wrote:
This is in response to it Boerenbusiness article:
[url = https: // www.boerenbusiness.nl/column/10915890/centrale-vergister-uitkomst-voor-veel-melkveehouders]Central digester solution for many dairy farmers[/url]
What solution is this for the livestock farmer himself? - A highly subsidized digester yields hardly any return. - The amount of manure remains the same or increases, so the surplus does too. - The nitrogen problem only gets bigger. - A small, unrealistic solution: reuse at very high costs.
If something needs to be subsidized, you should immediately ask yourself if we are all on the right track. If the sustainable sector (solar panels, wind turbines, digesters, heat pumps, batteries, insulation, etc.) still cannot stand on its own two feet after 30 years of coddling, then you should just pull the plug. Digestion is nice and will have added value in certain situations, but turning it into a revenue model is another story. There are already enough entrepreneurs who have suffered significant financial losses doing so. It is a specialized field, and you can't just pick it up on a Friday afternoon; that is often underestimated.
Subscriber
Arie poor branch. 21 April 2026
Joop van Leijsen wrote:
This is in response to it Boerenbusiness article:
[url = https: // www.boerenbusiness.nl/column/10915890/centrale-vergister-uitkomst-voor-veel-melkveehouders]Central digester solution for many dairy farmers[/url]
What solution is this for the livestock farmer himself? - A highly subsidized digester yields hardly any return. - The amount of manure remains the same or increases, so the surplus does too. - The nitrogen problem only gets bigger. - A small, unrealistic solution: reuse at very high costs.
When you realize how much capital flows from livestock farming to arable farming, you don't get off as easily as Van Leijsen does. I consider keeping this capital within the sector and realizing its value a commendable endeavor, and as a livestock farmer, I would stand firmly behind it and strongly advocate for it. I know a private entrepreneur with a large digester who has been supplying gas to a substantial residential area for several years. They have been digesting for decades and have gone through very difficult periods. They prove that it is possible and profitable. Surely it must be possible on a group basis as well. No, you don't do it in an afternoon.
Subscriber
blinders 22 April 2026
Arie poor branch. wrote:
Joop van Leijsen wrote:
This is in response to it Boerenbusiness article:
[url = https: // www.boerenbusiness.nl/column/10915890/centrale-vergister-uitkomst-voor-veel-melkveehouders]Central digester solution for many dairy farmers[/url]
What solution is this for the livestock farmer himself? - A highly subsidized digester yields hardly any return. - The amount of manure remains the same or increases, so the surplus does too. - The nitrogen problem only gets bigger. - A small, unrealistic solution: reuse at very high costs.
When you realize how much capital flows from livestock farming to arable farming, you don't get off as easily as Van Leijsen does. I consider keeping this capital within the sector and realizing its value a commendable endeavor, and as a livestock farmer, I would stand firmly behind it and strongly advocate for it. I know a private entrepreneur with a large digester who has been supplying gas to a substantial residential area for several years. They have been digesting for decades and have gone through very difficult periods. They prove that it is possible and profitable. Surely it must be possible on a group basis as well. No, you don't do it in an afternoon.
The question is and remains: is a return being generated, or is it being kept afloat by subsidies? It would behoove the parties to tell the whole story. There are plenty of examples where things have gone wrong. As I wrote earlier, the numbers have to add up, and that will be different for every project.
Subscriber
Arie poor branch. 23 April 2026
blinkers wrote:
Arie poor branch. wrote:
Joop van Leijsen wrote:
This is in response to it Boerenbusiness article:
[url = https: // www.boerenbusiness.nl/column/10915890/centrale-vergister-uitkomst-voor-veel-melkveehouders]Central digester solution for many dairy farmers[/url]
What solution is this for the livestock farmer himself? - A highly subsidized digester yields hardly any return. - The amount of manure remains the same or increases, so the surplus does too. - The nitrogen problem only gets bigger. - A small, unrealistic solution: reuse at very high costs.
When you realize how much capital flows from livestock farming to arable farming, you don't get off as easily as Van Leijsen does. I consider keeping this capital within the sector and realizing its value a commendable endeavor, and as a livestock farmer, I would stand firmly behind it and strongly advocate for it. I know a private entrepreneur with a large digester who has been supplying gas to a substantial residential area for several years. They have been digesting for decades and have gone through very difficult periods. They prove that it is possible and profitable. Surely it must be possible on a group basis as well. No, you don't do it in an afternoon.
The question is and remains: is a return being generated, or is it being kept afloat by subsidies? It would behoove the parties to tell the whole story. There are plenty of examples where things have gone wrong. As I wrote earlier, the numbers have to add up, and that will be different for every project.
I think parties generating a good return have no need to flaunt it, and certainly not if that is partly due to subsidies. If things go wrong for whatever reason, you also prefer not to broadcast it to the world.
Subscriber
blinders 24 April 2026
Arie poor thing. wrote:
blinkers wrote:
Arie poor branch. wrote:
Joop van Leijsen wrote:
This is in response to it Boerenbusiness article:
[url = https: // www.boerenbusiness.nl/column/10915890/centrale-vergister-uitkomst-voor-veel-melkveehouders]Central digester solution for many dairy farmers[/url]
What solution is this for the livestock farmer himself? - A highly subsidized digester yields hardly any return. - The amount of manure remains the same or increases, so the surplus does too. - The nitrogen problem only gets bigger. - A small, unrealistic solution: reuse at very high costs.
When you realize how much capital flows from livestock farming to arable farming, you don't get off as easily as Van Leijsen does. I consider keeping this capital within the sector and realizing its value a commendable endeavor, and as a livestock farmer, I would stand firmly behind it and strongly advocate for it. I know a private entrepreneur with a large digester who has been supplying gas to a substantial residential area for several years. They have been digesting for decades and have gone through very difficult periods. They prove that it is possible and profitable. Surely it must be possible on a group basis as well. No, you don't do it in an afternoon.
The question is and remains: is a return being generated, or is it being kept afloat by subsidies? It would behoove the parties to tell the whole story. There are plenty of examples where things have gone wrong. As I wrote earlier, the numbers have to add up, and that will be different for every project.
I think parties generating a good return have no need to flaunt it, and certainly not if that is partly due to subsidies. If things go wrong for whatever reason, you also prefer not to broadcast it to the world.
If everything was great, you would hear about it; as I wrote earlier, the numbers have to add up. Practice is often a bit more stubborn than theory.
Subscriber
Ruud 28 April 2026
It is a shame that a lot of manure goes onto the land without extracting the gas. The government should make that mandatory in these times and provide subsidies, but I think they prefer this excise duty and energy tax right now. In concentration areas, surely something must be possible without too much extra transport.
Subscriber
blinders 1 May 2026
An article appeared in De Telegraaf today stating that producers of renewable energy will have to help pay for reinforcing the power grid; until now, they were exempt. The financing of these types of projects is coming under pressure because it is unclear what consequences this will have for the business case.
Subscriber
juun 1 May 2026
You have to pay for your own connection yourself anyway.
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