Grass Biorefinery

Most dairy farms grow more grass than they use efficiently.
Grass biorefineries turn excess grass into high-value protein, and lower supply chain emissions.

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The Climate Issue

Grass is a powerful resource. But most of it goes straight from field to cow, with much of the protein lost in digestion or converted into methane.

At the same time, Europe imports millions of tonnes of soy and other feed proteins every year, driving deforestation, global emissions, and feed price volatility.

While our pastures are abundant, their potential as a sustainable protein source is mostly untapped.

The Solution: Grass Biorefinery

A grass biorefinery extracts protein from fresh grass before it’s fed to livestock. The process presses and separates the grass into fibre, juice, and a concentrated protein product, ideal for feeding pigs, poultry, or as a milk replacer.

This creates a circular, plant-based protein source from local biomass. The remaining grass fibre can be fed to cattle, used for bedding, or further processed into biogas or biofertiliser.

It’s a new way to unlock more value, and less emissions, from every hectare of grassland.

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Key Benefits of a Grass Biorefinery

Local Protein

Biorefineries replace imported soy with protein extracted from locally sourced grass, supporting food sovereignty and reducing reliance on global supply chains.

Lower Emissions

Using grass protein can cut feed-related emissions by 40–70 %, especially in systems where soy footprints are high.

Revenue Stream

Grass processing creates multiple co-products, protein, fibre, juice, opening up markets for food, feed, and fertiliser inputs.

Impact of a Grass Biorefinery

Grass biorefineries help farms and regions create low-emission protein from local sources. With the right processing, one hectare of intensively managed grass can yield 250–350 kg of digestible protein.

Pilot studies and EU data show that grass biorefineries can:

Reduce soy imports by 0.5–1.5 tonnes per farm
Save €300–€600/tonne in feed protein cost
Cut supply chain GHG by 5–10 %
Support regional protein self-sufficiency

The table below shows the typical savings and emissions impact across three adoption scenarios.

Scenario	Grass Protein Use	Feed Cost Savings	GHG Emissions	% GHG Reduction
0% Protein Replacement	-	-	0.960 kg CO₂-eq/kg milk	0% kg CO₂-eq/kg milk
50% Protein Replacement	Partial grass protein	€1,500	0.919 kg CO₂-eq/kg milk	4.3% kg CO₂-eq/kg milk
100% Protein Replacement	Full grass protein for target animals	€3,000	0.875 kg CO₂-eq/kg milk	8.9% kg CO₂-eq/kg milk

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Considerations

Processing Infrasctruture

Biorefineries require capital investment and grass processing equipment. Clustered regional models may be more viable than on-farm units for most.

Protein Quality & Use

The protein is ideal for monogastric animals and young stock. It’s not a full substitute for all feed types but can replace a significant portion of imported protein.

Harvest Timing

Grass must be harvested young and fresh to maximise protein content and extraction yield. This affects rotation and harvesting logistics.

Implementation

While still emerging, grass biorefineries offer major potential for farms and feed producers. For interested stakeholders, here’s how to begin exploring.

Start with feasibility. Assess the grass supply, transport distance, and potential users of grass protein and co-products.
Link with processors. Join or initiate regional biorefinery pilot groups. Shared facilities can reduce costs and offer co-investment pathways.
Test and trial. Begin with small volumes of early-harvested grass, working with researchers or commercial partners to evaluate yield and digestibility.

Behind the Research

ODOS Tech was founded by Cian White and Alejandro Vergara, two sustainability specialists with deep expertise in agricultural climate action.

Cian, a researcher at Trinity College Dublin with a background in environmental science, works on restoring nature to increase biodiversity on farms by using satellite images to track trees, hedgerows, and other habitats. Alejandro, a PhD researcher at University College Dublin, helps farmers measure their carbon emissions footprint and implement mitigation strategies to reduce their impact.

Together, they helped lead the carbon and nature-based work for the Farm Zero C project at Shinagh Farm, one of Europe’s first net-zero dairy pilots. At ODOS, they build smart, science-based tools to help agri-food businesses protect the environment and restore nature.

Research

Grass Pilot Projects

In the Netherlands, Grassa has piloted biorefineries that yield high-quality protein from grass with up to 40 % soy replacement potential in pig diets.

Farm Zero C Evaluation

At Shinagh Farm, grass biorefinery potential was explored to add value to excess grass growth and produce local feed protein. Integration with biogas and fertiliser strategies was also assessed.

EU Protein Strategy

Grass-based protein supports EU goals for strategic autonomy and sustainable agriculture. It aligns with Green Deal ambitions for low-carbon, circular bioeconomy systems.