Overcoming The Technical and Market Barriers to Poultry Litter Compost

摘要

Alternative uses for poultry litter need to be developed to reduce agricultural runoff and improve water quality. Poultry litter compost represents a value-added product that can address water quality concerns while supplementing farm incomes. However, poultry litter compost faces technical and market barriers such as consumer bias against poultry litter as a feedstock, a highly competitive market with well established substitute products, high capital costs, and a lack of consumer education regarding the attributes and benefits of compost. Many of these barriers can be overcome through the identification of the appropriate market for the product, consumer education, and a strong marketing strategy that promotes poultry litter as a "green" fertilizer. This paper illustrates the primary technical and market barriers to poultry litter compost, and offers potential solutions to these barriers.