The global demand for meat protein is projected to double by 2030, and increasing European protein dependency on imported soybean meal has triggered high interest in new production systems and value chains for alternative proteins for food and feed. Agricultural cultivation of grass and legumes are highly efficient and competitive protein production systems, reaching up to 2-3 ton protein/ha/yr. A green biorefinery separating fresh forage biomass into a fibrous pulp and a press-juice, from where soluble protein can be precipitated and recovered as protein concentrate, are investigated as a commercially viable system for local protein production.

At AU ENG biorefining, we are developing and operating a green biorefinery pilot plant with an approximate capacity of 1 ton fresh material input per hour, with the purpose of process development and -optimization, upscaling, and production. The products are leaf protein concentrate for monogastric animal feed, and plant based protein food, fibre pulp for ruminant feed, and lignocellulosic feedstock for biochemicals, biomaterials and bioenergy, and last a residual juice with applications for bioenergy and nutrient fertilizer. Feedstocks are produced on the AU agricultural research facilities in Foulum, and include many different varieties of forage -grasses and -legumes. We are currently up-scaling the process 10x in a new demonstration scale green biorefinery platform for continued process development and collaboration, close to commercial scale.