[Dave]

Personally, I do pretty well on cheeseburgers and fries–but I’m not running in the Olympics either! Great digesters need great nutrition, macros, minerals, and trace metals too. In the AD sites we work with, most do not need any supplements. Some can get low cost cobalt, selenium, etc. from local animal nutrition and farming supply chains, only a select few need anything more sophisticated. Working with a variety of feedstocks is an option for some folks to add nutritional variety to their digesters.

[Natalia Bourenane]

Thank you for your answer, @AzuraAssociates.Dave !

[Hatem]

When additives become unnecessary

If the pre‑analysis is done properly, many digesters do not require routine trace element dosing. This is especially true when:

1- Feedstock BMP, macro‑ and micro‑nutrient profiles are fully characterized.

2- The digester is modeled numerically to predict nutrient sufficiency under different OLR and HRT scenarios.

3- AI/ML models detect early microbial stress before it becomes a deficiency.

4- The operator adjusts feedstock mix proactively rather than reactively.

In these cases, the biology remains naturally balanced, and additives become an exception, not a daily requirement.

Our numerical and AI/ML tools were developed precisely to address this point. By combining BMP datasets, stoichiometric modeling, inhibition kinetics, and machine‑learning pattern recognition, the system can determine:

–Whether trace elements are truly deficient or simply assumed to be.

–The exact conditions under which supplementation would have a measurable benefit.

–How to avoid unnecessary chemical additions by optimizing feedstock blending and loading strategies.

This prevents the common industry practice of “blind supplementation,” which is costly and often unnecessary.

[Dave]

well said Hatem, avoiding “…common industry practice of “blind supplementation,” which is costly and often unnecessary.” is a key feature of a well thought-out feeding plan and helps maximize the site’s business case.