The agricultural company Vestjyllands Andel extracts protein from grass at Denmark’s first farm plant for biorefining of grass, Ausumgaard, in Northwest Jutland. The grass protein has the potential to replace imported soy from China and South America. 

Refined grass is a manageable and locally produced source of protein for animal feed, where all residual production can be used for biogas to limit waste. The new feed will become profitable and thus attractive for plant breeders and farms to convert grain fields to grass. This will lower the industry’s climate footprint. Grasslands store more carbon in the soil and lose less nitrate to the aquatic environment compared to annual grain and seed crops. By using grass for protein production, we avoid the large import of soy as well as achieve climate and environmental benefits by growing more grass. 

The farm’s new, decentralised biorefinery will function as a prototype plant and inspiration for other farms and investors. Now, 1.5 tonnes of pure protein is produced per hectare over a season. The estimated potential is that they can produce 700-800 kg of grass protein per hectare more than the current achievements.