In recent years, the multifunctionality of farming activities and diversification of on-farm income sources have increasingly included renewable energy generation. The uptake of on-farm anaerobic digestion (AD), however, continues to lag behind other renewable energy activities. Moreover, on-farm AD is not only a source of renewable energy, but also a means of farm waste management and thus a means of enhancing environmental quality. This paper provides an in-depth analysis of the policy barriers that might explain this limited uptake, and identify key directions for future AD policy design. We draw on a mixed-methods research design, with data collected by questionnaires, interviews and a round-table workshop of stakeholders. We analyse our data using a framework that disaggregates ‘policy’ into meta, meso and micro levels of Policy Means and Policy Ends. We conclude that future policy must recognise the synergies between on-farm AD as a source of renewable energy and as a means of waste management, reflected in instrument mix and instrument calibration. Calibration-stability is also found to be of critical importance. We also offer new insights and understanding around the application of our chosen policy framework, notably how it can analyse policies that are nested within large, complex policy systems.

近年来，农业活动的多功能性和农场收入来源的多样化已越来越多地包括可再生能源的生产。但是，对农场厌氧消化（AD）的吸收仍然落后于其他可再生能源活动。此外，农场上的AD不仅是可再生能源的来源，而且还是农场废物管理的手段，因此也是提高环境质量的手段。本文对可能会解释这种局限性的政策障碍进行了深入分析，并确定了未来反倾销政策设计的关键方向。我们采用混合方法的研究设计，通过问卷，访谈和利益相关者圆桌研讨会收集数据。我们使用一个将“政策”分解为元数据的框架来分析数据，政策手段和政策目的的中观和微观层面。我们得出结论，未来的政策必须认识到在农场AD作为可再生能源和废物管理手段之间的协同作用，这在仪器组合和仪器校准中得到了体现。还发现校准稳定性至关重要。我们还将围绕所选策略框架的应用提供新的见解和理解，尤其是它如何分析嵌套在大型复杂策略系统中的策略。