Practice Abstract - Research and innovation

Improved nutrient cycling and green biomass production via biorefinery and farm collaboration

In Denmark, MIXED is working with a subgroup of 8-15 farmers, practicing a mix of livestock and crop production, situated in a watershed with shallow estuaries and groundwater reservoirs for drinking water extraction, vulnerable to nitrogen leaching (168,000 Ha), where farmers are required to reduce the nitrate leaching significantly. Together with MIXED they will investigate ways of doing that with focus on a new biorefinery technology combined with biogas production and sustainable grassland management.
The bio-refinery technology can transform grass to a high-quality protein, e.g. to be used for a growing organic pig and poultry production (SuperGrassPork) independent of imported soybean based protein, and with two by-products - a fibre-pulp for ruminant fodder, and a ‘juice’ that can also be used for biogas production and bio-based fertilisers for fodder and cash crops. The group of farmers are part of a larger initiative – a collaboration between Aarhus University, local municipalities, farmers and bio-based industries, with the objective to support local food production, a more circular economy, and at the same time protect environment and reduce climate impacts.
It is expected that MIXED will help farmers to reduce the nitrate leaching, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, while increasing efficiency as well as resilience by reducing the areas with cereals and replace it with grass and clover grass for a more diverse range of products, and other types of land use. Thereby it can serve as an enabler for a more sustainable agricultural production, including potentials for more organic farming, and a more diverse agricultural landscapes.
Read more: https://cutt.ly/7DUgqcE

Source Project
MIXED - Multi-actor and transdisciplinary development of efficient and resilient MIXED farming and agroforestry systems
Ongoing | 2020-2025
Main funding source
Horizon 2020 (EU Research and Innovation Programme)
Geographical location
Denmark
Project details

Project Keywords