Abstract
Bangladesh is highly populated, heavily reliant on agriculture, and dependent on subsidised imported chemical fertilisers. The country also produces substantial organic waste from agricultural activities. Farmers have traditionally recycled waste through homestead composting, but increasing waste volumes and demand for sustainable agriculture create opportunities for large-scale bio-fertiliser and bioenergy production through commercial composting (CC) and anaerobic digestion (AD). This study investigates the status, challenges, and prospects of the AD & CC sectors and evaluates the quality, safety, and agronomic effectiveness of bio-fertilisers through field surveys, laboratory analyses, and field trials. This study also examines regulatory shortfalls associated with authorised commercial composting (ACC), unauthorised commercial composting (UACC), and various AD systems.Findings indicate that HAD performance is low, with increasing feedstock demand and barriers such as poor storage and limited spreading machinery. The CC sector is expanding but constrained by regulatory complexity and limitations. Compost quality was assessed against national and international standards. ACC generally produces higher-quality compost than UACC, yet toxic trace elements (TTEs), veterinary drug residues (VDRs), and mycotoxins (MTs) remain concerns, though at comparatively lower levels. Thirty-three VDRs were detected, 40% banned for dairy animals. Fourteen MTs were identified, including emerging toxins such as beauvericin, with 100% of the compost contaminated. Feedstock type and process control strongly influence nutrient and contaminant levels. Field trials on potatoes, T. Aman, and Boro rice show that compost and digestates, either alone or with triple superphosphate, can produce the same or better yields than chemical fertilisers while lowering Cd uptake.
The study highlights the role of bio-fertilisers in the circular economy and their relevance to One Health through VDRlinked antimicrobial resistance. The developed Accelerating Bio-fertiliser Model and community-based AD frameworks for biodegradation of MTs will advance sustainable agriculture in Bangladesh and will examine their global implications
Thesis is embargoed until 31 December 2030.
| Date of Award | Jul 2026 |
|---|---|
| Original language | English |
| Awarding Institution |
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| Sponsors | Science and Technology Fellowship Trust, Ministry of Science and Technology (Former Bangabandhu Science and Technology Fellowship Trust), government of Bangladesh & Official Development Assistance (ODA) Research Activities: Organic Waste Valorisation and the Rural Economy of Bangladesh,” which is funded by the OECD, United Nations |
| Supervisor | Paul Williams (Supervisor), Jason Chin (Supervisor), Thomas Hastings (Supervisor) & SM Ashekuzzaman4 (Supervisor) |
Keywords
- Anaerobic digestion (AD)
- Commercial composting
- Bio-fertilisers
- compost
- digestate
- nutrients
- toxic trace elements (TTEs)
- phosphorus use efficiency,
- Veterinary drug residues (VDRs)
- Mycotoxins (MTs)
- standardisation
- circular economy (CE)
- Bangladesh
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