RENURE is here: What the new EU regulation means for manure and digestate
Updated: Oct 9
On 9 February 2026, the European Commission adopted an amendment to the Nitrates Directive (Commission Directive (EU) 2026/288). It allows Member States to let farmers apply certain nitrogen fertilisers recovered from livestock manure, known as RENURE, on top of the existing limit for manure. For biogas plant operators and livestock farms, this opens new options for nutrient recovery. This post explains what RENURE is, what has changed, where it already applies and what role processing plays. Updated: October 2026.
What is RENURE?
RENURE stands for “REcovered Nitrogen from manURE”: nitrogen recovered from livestock manure and converted into a plant-available form that behaves like mineral fertiliser. The directive names three product types that Member States may authorise: an ammonium salt (scrubbing salt) from a gas purification or emission control process, a mineral concentrate from reverse osmosis, and struvite precipitated from livestock manure. Each must meet quality criteria, including a mineral nitrogen share of at least 90 % of total nitrogen (or an organic carbon to nitrogen ratio of no more than 3) and limits for copper (300 mg/kg dry matter) and zinc (800 mg/kg dry matter).
What changed in 2026?
In nitrate-vulnerable zones, the Nitrates Directive limits nitrogen from livestock manure to 170 kg N per hectare per year. Under Directive (EU) 2026/288, Member States may allow up to 80 kg N per hectare per year from RENURE fertilisers in addition to that limit, so up to 250 kg N per hectare per year in total. The aim is to reduce dependence on imported mineral fertiliser and strengthen the circular economy.
Where does RENURE already apply?
RENURE is optional: it applies only in Member States that choose to authorise it and transpose the amendment into national law, at the latest by 2 March 2028. The Netherlands was among the first: since 12 June 2026, Dutch farmers may apply registered RENURE products up to 80 kg N per hectare on top of the manure limit, under an amended implementing regulation of the Dutch Fertilisers Act and with registration at RVO. Other Member States still have to decide whether and how to authorise RENURE, so check the national rules before planning with it.
What does this mean for businesses?
Where RENURE is authorised, biogas plants and livestock farms can benefit in several ways:
More scope for nutrient use: recovered nitrogen can be applied on top of the manure limit.
Less purchasing: your own recovered nitrogen replaces imported mineral fertiliser.
A marketable product: a disposal problem becomes a usable fertiliser.
Where processing comes into play
To become a RENURE fertiliser, the nitrogen has to be recovered from manure and brought into the right form. MKR Cleanwater’s evaporators reduce the volume of slurry and digestate by around two thirds (thermal DV series) and by up to 90 % on thin liquid fractions up to 2.2 % DS (electric MVR series) and bind the released ammonia in a scrubber as ammonium sulphate solution (ASL) in mineral fertiliser quality (pH 5.5 to 6.5). When the nitrogen comes from livestock manure and the product meets the quality criteria, ASL falls under the scrubbing salt category and can be used as a RENURE fertiliser in Member States that authorise it.
Frequently asked questions
What does RENURE mean? “REcovered Nitrogen from manURE”: nitrogen recovered from livestock manure that can be used like mineral fertiliser.
What changes with Directive (EU) 2026/288? In nitrate-vulnerable zones, Member States may allow up to 80 kg N/ha/year from RENURE fertilisers in addition to the 170 kg N/ha/year limit for manure.
In which countries does RENURE already apply? The Netherlands has allowed RENURE since 12 June 2026. Other Member States must decide whether to authorise it; the transposition deadline is 2 March 2028.
Can MKR’s ammonium sulphate solution be used as a RENURE fertiliser? Yes, where the nitrogen comes from livestock manure, the ASL meets the quality criteria and the Member State authorises RENURE. ASL from our evaporators is of mineral fertiliser quality (pH 5.5 to 6.5).
Who is this relevant for? Biogas plant operators and livestock farms that process manure, and the planners who design their nutrient recovery.
Conclusion
RENURE gives recovered nitrogen from manure a legal route to be used like mineral fertiliser. The EU framework is in place, the Netherlands has started, and other countries will follow at their own pace. Operators who plan nutrient recovery now can be ready when their country authorises RENURE.
Want to know what your slurry or digestate can yield? Send us a sample and we evaporate it in our lab.
Sources: Commission Directive (EU) 2026/288 of 9 February 2026 (EUR-Lex); European Commission, DG Environment, 9 February 2026; LTO Nederland, “Gebruik van RENURE mogelijk vanaf 12 juni 2026”.
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