Grass-based products for monogastric animals
The refinement of grass through green biorefining has the potential to meet protein demands, especially for organic poultry production and soy-free feed solutions for monogastric animals. Financial opportunities can be improved by increasing the share of grassland in grain-dominated crop rotations if protein feed is produced through processing.
About the project
The project examines how the refinement of grassland can become a sustainable source of protein. Today, soy is imported mainly from South America, a practice which has a large negative impact on the climate. With this project, we want to find a solution on how to meet the demand for organic feed, especially for poultry, pigs and other monogastric animals, in order to reduce the dependency on imported soy. In time, the protein could also become an ingredient in food products.
Sweden is a country with good conditions for grass production. Grassland farming increases soil fertility and provides higher yields from other crops. Increasing the share of grassland in the crop rotation also improves the economic possibilities of animal-free agriculture. Moreover, grasslands have well-developed root systems that can store carbon which act as a carbon sink, and no pesticides are needed in its cultivation. From this perspective, there are many positive aspects to take into account when increasing grassland cultivation.
A project involving grassland-based products will see the development of two different production systems. These systems will show parallel development opportunities for commercial production of protein from grassland crops intended for animal feed. The first system will focus on producing and utilizing the protein locally on a smaller scale. The second system will focus on a more large-scale facility that produces a protein concentrate for commercial use. The project is based on experiences gained from previous research in the area, and the goal is to obtain sufficient information to proceed with feasibility studies for actual production facilities.
Project summary
PROJECT NAME
Grass-based products for monogastric animals
STATUS
Ongoing
OUR ROLE IN THE PROJECT
Project partner
PROJECT START
2021-01-01
DURATION
3 years
PARTNERS
RISE - Research Institutes of Sweden
Lantmännen
Hilmér Lantbruk AB