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FFL-JA-Forskningsmidlene for jordbruk og matindustri

One crop, two diets – locally sourced feed for cow and chicken from biorefined forage

Alternative title: En avling, to fôrrasjoner – lokalprodusert fôr fra bioraffinerte engvekster til melkekyr og slaktekylling

Awarded: NOK 6.1 mill.

Project Manager:

Project Number:

336416

Project Period:

2022 - 2025

Location:

Partner countries:

Forage crops are raw material for a green biorefinery producing green protein concentrate, fibre rich feeds and other commodities. More knowledge is needed about the feed value of the products and the sustainability of the value chain. The research project ONETWO aims to evaluate green protein concentrate from pressed forages as feed in the diet of chicken and fibre-rich pulp in the diet of dairy cows. We will also contribute to technological development by testing novel dewatering methods for products with high water content. Furthermore, we will assess sustainability and develop business models for green biorefinery in Norway. To successfully address our ambitions and aims, ONETWO includes experts in forage production, agrotechnology, biorefinery, animal and social sciences. NIBIO will carry out the project in cooperation with Ruralis, Aarhus University, and the industry partners TINE SA, Felleskjøpet fôrutvikling AS, Norsk kylling AS, Orkel Direkte AS and Scandi Energy AS. The project will utilse NIBIO's pilot plant for green biorefinery, facilities for controlled animal feeding experiments, laboraties for feed evaluation with in vitro methods and various methods used in social science in the development of business models. Expected impacts of ONETWO will be increased share of animal feed ingredients being produced in Norway, with a corresponding reduction in soy import, less dependency on imports and higher food security.

Government documents (LMD 2016, LMD 2020) emphasise the need to increase the proportion of locally produced feed stuffs in the Norwegian livestock production sector to strengthen food security, increase sustainability and develop more climate friendly production. Currently, Norwegian animal husbandry is heavily dependent on imported protein feedstuffs, in particular soy which is associated with deforestation and climate gas emissions. ONETWO aims to evaluate biorefinery of forage as a measure to increase self-sufficiency of feed protein in the Norwegian livestock production sector. Biorefinery technology has recently demonstrated successful industrial separation through mechanical pressing of forage crops into parallel commodities and value chains: 1) a green juice that can be de-watered to Green Protein Concentrate (GPC) suitable for monogastrics and 2) a fibre-rich press residue (pulp) that can be ensiled and is suitable for ruminant livestock. Using an transdisciplinary and participatory approach, involving dedicated researchers and industrial partners from different positions along the value chain, we aim to 1) improve the efficiency of the biorefinery process by applying novel de-watering technology, 2) evaluate GPC and pulp as feed for dairy cows and chicken through in vitro digestibility assessment and feeding experiments, and 3) develop business models for biorefinery of forages in a Norwegian context. To successfully address our ambitions and aims, ONETWO includes experts in forage production, agrotechnology, biorefinery, animal and social sciences. An important impact of ONETWO will be to improve utilisation of Norwegian gras resources by incentifying farmers to maintain grass production areas, despite decreasing ruminant production, and to re-open fallow land. Further, it will contribute to increased share of animal feed ingredients being produced in Norway, with a corresponding reduction in soy import, less dependency on imports and higher food security.

Funding scheme:

FFL-JA-Forskningsmidlene for jordbruk og matindustri