Potential of biorefining fresh and preserved forages for year-round green protein supply in Norway

This YeRoP project (Potential of biorefining fresh and preserved forages for year-round green protein supply in Norway) addresses the challenge of securing a consistent supply of high-quality protein for modern livestock production in Norway. Currently, Norway relies heavily on imported protein feedstuffs, highlighting the need for sustainable alternatives. Green forage crops, specifically grass and clover, offer a promising solution due to their high biomass production potential. In the context of Norwegian livestock production, green biorefinery may have significant potential. This approach involves mechanical pressing and separation to unlock the protein content in forages. The project aims to develop sustainable solutions to improve protein self-sufficiency in Norwegian livestock production, while identifying key knowledge gaps by assessing the potential of preserved forages as feedstock for green biorefinery as an alternative to fresh forages. The project includes an extensive literature study, drawing insights from grassland and livestock sciences and recent developments in green biorefinery. In addition, we will test different approaches for protein extraction from juice produced using various pressing methods on fresh, ensiled, and dried/re-hydrated forages in lab-scale experiments. The project will develop a comprehensive processing model and use the pilot plant to gain practical insights into year-round grass management, strengthen the knowledge base, and support future scalability using both fresh and preserved feedstocks. Expected outcomes include identification of critical knowledge gaps, guidance for future research, improved understanding of equipment requirements and capacities, and stimulation of further research aimed at developing integrated systems for continuous biomass supply. The project also aims to enable collaboration with stakeholders such as the feed industry, equipment developers for forage harvesting and biorefining, and governmental organisations. Findings will be disseminated through articles in farmer magazines, a dedicated project website, and a comprehensive final report summarising objectives, methods, results, and recommendations.