Online: Video contribution by the EU funded project GO-GRASS to the Global Bioeconomy Summit 2020, held in an interactive digital format from 16th to 20th November 2020.
The EU funded project GO-GRASS (Grass-based circular business models for rural agri-food value chains (GO-GRASS), coordinated by ATB, was presented at the summit in a short video. The intention of the summits video presentation was to show the variety of bioeconomy businesses and publicly funded research programs around the world.
See the Go-GRASS video on YouTube
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The GO-GRASS project aims to unlock and harness grass-based biomass potential to create additional business opportunities for farmers and producers in rural areas.
A total of 21% of Europe is covered by grassland. In large parts it is used for fodder or feedstock. However, some grassland areas are not economically viable for this use. In some cases the grass has a low nutritional value, in others the grassland areas are insufficient in size or accessibility. In addition, marginal land could be used to produce even more grass. All this grass has enourmous potential for new biobased businesses.
By developing and integrating a set of small-scale bio-based technologies and innovative business models across four demonstration sites the project wants to reduce the dependency on fossil fuel and fossil-based products, while simultaneously strenghtening the rural community across Europe.
- In Germany the DEMO targets to produce biochar via Hydrothermal Carbonisation (HTC) of grassland-cuttings from wetlands as supplement for soil improvement.
- The DEMO in Denmark aims to develop a small-scale bio-refining technology to extract protein concentrates for monogastric animals from grassland situated in nitrate sensitive areas.
- In the Netherlands it is to develop digester and fermentation technology to produce paper and carton products from a road-side grass and nature or fauna grass. In Sweden, the aim is to establish briquetting technology at local and small-scale to produce climate-friendly and heat-treated animal bedding using reed canary grass.
Replicability will be tested in three follower countries (Romania, Hungary and Spain).
More information on the project: https://go-grass.eu/
GO-GRASS has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation programme under Grant Agreement no. 862674.
Contact ATB: PD Dr. Philipp Grundmann