Our circularity concept
Grassa brings various parties together with its circularity concept to jointly address challenges in the agricultural sector. By using the existing acreage of grass more efficiently and opening it up, more is earned in the entire chain and it becomes more sustainable.
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Our circularity concept
Lower emissions
- 30% less NH3 – ammonia
- 30% less P-phosphate
- 15% less CH4 – methane
What doesn't go in doesn't come out. Opened grass contains less unstable protein than normal grass, while the production of milk and meat remains at the same level or improves when fed with open grass. The result: less waste. As a result, ammonia and phosphate emissions are reduced. Several studies have confirmed this.
Less unstable protein also results in a reduced energy requirement. This results in less methane production in the rumen and therefore the cow burps less methane. The result is a reduction of 10-15% in methane emissions.
Local & circulair
- replacing GMO soy protein
- reducing CO2 footprint with 80%
- local manure on local land
The European Commission wants to become less dependent on the import of protein-rich crops such as soy. In 2018, the European Commission therefore asked its member states to set up a strategy. A strategy that elaborates on how we can become less dependent. In the Netherlands this has been translated into the National Protein Strategy.
Grassa is mentioned by name in the National Protein Strategy as one of the possible solutions. The grass protein produced by Grassa is a qualitatively equivalent or better protein than the protein from soy. Because the current use of grass - roughage for cows - is not affected by the production of digested grass, a large part of the current grass area can be used for grass protein production. So it is not necessary to specially cultivate a crop that displaces another food crop. The entire acreage is already there, ready to be used. The entire Dutch demand for soy can be met if 25% of the current acreage of grass is improved via the Grassa Circularity Concept.
Innovative and efficient
Stimulating circularity
More food – same land use
- More food from existing grass
- Availability for monogastric creatures
- Higher production of milk and meat
The Grassa Circularity concept ensures that the nutrient-rich grass crop is handled more efficiently. The extraction of grass protein and FOS from existing grassland ensures that up to 2.5x more food is extracted from the grass than in the current situation. While ruminants always had a monopoly on the use of grass, monogastricians such as humans, dogs and pigs can suddenly also obtain nutrition from the grass. And all this while still producing the same amount of milk and meat, with less waste. This can be achieved with the current acreage of grass. More food without additional land use.
BIO4Africa
In the Netherlands, this food efficiency is interesting for an additional revenue model. In countries with more scarcity, however, this food efficiency is crucial. That is why Grassa is participating in the BIO4Africa project. In this project, Grassa technology is used to contribute to improved food security for Africa. Visit www.BIO4AFRICA.eu for more information.
Better soil and biodiversity
- Facilitates land exchange / strip farming
- Inclusion of herbs and clover
- Higher CO2 binding
Grass covers the soil all year round. Grass captures as much CO2 as a deciduous forest and is therefore the shared king in CO2 capture. Grass improves the soil structure and stores a lot of organic matter. That is why grass is an ideal rest crop for arable farmers, between intensive crops such as sugar beet, potatoes and flower bulbs. Grassa can offer the arable farmer a fixed price for grass and thus stimulates the possibility of growing grass. Grassa can also act as an intermediary in the exchange of land between arable farmers and dairy farmers, if they are located in the working area of the grass improvement site.
In arable farming, strip farming cultivation is becoming more and more common. Grass, especially in combination with herbs and clovers, fits in very well. Arable farmers can thus significantly increase the biodiversity on their farm.
Climate positive
- Full compensation of CO2 emissions for grass production and processing
- Substantial reduction for the rest of the chain
- 2030 climate goals achievable with the feed rail
In the Grassa grass improvement process, grass is transported. In addition, energy is used to press, heat and filter the grass. This extra energy and thus CO2 emissions are more than compensated for by the sustainability gains generated by the process.
The methane reductions ensure a direct reduction of CO2 emissions in dairy cattle. In addition, 1.5 to 2.5 times as much food is grown with the same amount of land. The additionally produced protein also replaces soy, which has a very high CO2 footprint.
Our ambition
From feed to food
After limited further processing, the grass protein is perfectly digestible and suitable for human consumption. It can be used as grass juice (replacing soy juice), in meat substitutes, pastas, smoothies, soups… you name it.
Although everyone has a blade of grass between their teeth in the summer, grass is not eaten by humans anywhere in the world. Therefore, ingredients obtained directly from grass may not yet be used in human food. For this, a "novel food process" must be completed, which shows that there are no toxic substances in the grass (protein). Feed grade protein can be upgraded to three valuable food grade products. This process will be launched in 2023 in partnership with other grass food developers.
