Locally grown protein will meet the future needs for sustainable feed

Bio-refined protein is one of many sustainable products that increase agricultural productivity and goes hand in hand with a climate-neutral future.

With the establishment of a new biorefinery in Denmark, meat production can now benefit from the green advantages of feeding animals with clover, grass and alfalfa. Local sourced bio-refined protein is one of the solutions to a more climate-friendly future.

The global demand for meat is high and will only increase as the world population continues to grow. Consequently, the growing population requires a sustainable meat production, which emphasises a demand for locally produced sustainable alternatives to imported soy.

Cooperating for a more sustainable meat production

In May 2020, the three Danish agricultural companies DLG, Danish Agro and DLF joined forces to establish a green protein biorefinery, BioRefine Denmark A/S, for local production of grass protein for organic feed based on grass, clover and alfalfa from approx. 2,000 hectares with a strong environmental and climate-friendly profile in Denmark.

In order to reduce the climate impact for the agriculture sector, DLF aspires to work with many different partners. Bio-refined protein is a brand-new business area in the refined protein segment, and selected partners are involved in the business development.

Integrating the Sustainable Development Goals

One aim of developing the protein is to reduce the global climate and environment impact, which makes the UN Sustainable Development Goals an integrated part.

The bio-refined protein makes a unique contribution to achieve food security by increasing productivity (SDG 2). Further, it takes urgent action to combat climate change by sequestrating methane (SDG 13), and finally protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems (SDG 15).

When sustainable farming generates higher profit

With bio-refined proteins local farmers will  be able to:

• Use more locally grown protein. Refining of protein from grass and alfalfa will lower the need for the import of soy
• Lower input cost. Using nitrogen-fixing clover and alfalfa minimises the costs for fertiliser
• Lower impact on climate. More perennial forage crops with a top-notch climate and environmental profile and less long-distance transport for import reduces emission into the atmosphere

A conversion from imported soy to locally grown grass or alfalfa will reduce the effect on the climate and decrease CO2 emissions from agriculture and transport.

Source: DLF