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 Norway's modern livestock production. Currently, Norway heavily relies 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 Norway's livestock production, green biorefinery may have a significant potential. This method involves mechanical pressing and separation to unlock the protein content in forages. The project aims to devise sustainable solutions for achieving protein self-sufficiency in Norway's livestock production while identifying specific knowledge gaps by assessing the potential of preserved forages as a feedstock for green biorefinery alternative to fresh forages. The project encompasses an extensive literature study, drawing insights from grassland and livestock sciences and recent developments in green biorefinery. Additionally, we will test various approaches to extract protein from juice prepared with different pressing methods form fresh, ensiled, and dried and re-hydrated forages in lab-scale experiments. The project will develop a comprehensive processing model, utilizing the pilot plant to gain practical insights into year-round grass management, enhancing knowledge, and supporting future scalability by using fresh and preserved feedstocks. The anticipated outcomes include the identification of critical knowledge gaps, guiding future research endeavors, insights into equipment requirements and capacities, and stimulating further research aimed at developing integrated systems for continuous biomass supply. The project also aims to pave the way for potential collaborations with stakeholders such as the feed industry, equipment developers for forage harvesting and biorefining, and governmental organizations. Research findings will be disseminated through articles in farmer magazines, a dedicated project website, and a comprehensive final report summarizing its objectives, methods, findings, and recommendations.