Project partners:
• UCD School of Biosystems & Food Engineering; Dublin, Ireland
• Biochar-Nergy GmbH; Gabersdorf, Austria
• Bantry Marine Research Station Ltd.; Bantry, Ireland
• Biorefinery Research, Implementation and Development Ltd.; Galway, Ireland
• HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein (Federal Higher Education and Research Institute Raumberg-Gumpenstein); Irdning-Donnersbachtal, Austria
• tbw research GesmbH; Vienna, Austria
• Stakeholder groups from Ireland, Denmark and Austria
Project costs:
The “fram4more” project is financially supported by the European Union’s LIFE Programme with 5.4 million euros
Project tasks and goal:
Both climate change and the increasing demand for animal-based foods pose significant global challenges for society and agriculture. Food and feed production is also a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions on a global scale and, due to the growing land requirements for feed production, to the loss of ecologically valuable land . Therefore, innovations for emission reduction, increased efficiency in food supply, and the reduction of valuable land use for animal feed are of central importance.
The European LIFE project "farm4more" addresses these challenges through innovative concepts in a cross-border collaboration between research institutions, universities, companies, and stakeholders along the food value chain.
Protein from grassland and seagrass
Pilot studies have shown that extracting amino acids and protein concentrates from grassland forage (clover, alfalfa, etc.) and seagrass could have significant potential for the sustainable protein supply of the growing global population.
More than two-thirds of global agricultural land is grassland – this difficult-to-digest forage can currently only be used primarily by ruminants.
Seagrass is not currently used in the food cycle.
The "farm4more project" focuses on the direct extraction of valuable protein building blocks (amino acids) from grassland forage and seagrass. The vital amino acids obtained from this process are used in the feed for chickens and pigs, thus reducing the climate-damaging need for protein imports, the arable land required for animal feed, and the pressure on ecologically valuable areas such as rainforests when soy cultivation is expanded.
*farm4more makes valuable contributions to reducing competition for food and land between animals and humans, improving domestic protein supply, and reducing emissions from animal husbandry.
Organic amino acids for chicken and pig
The amino acid concentrates obtained from grassland forage and cover crops in the "farm4more project" will contribute significantly to improving protein supply in organic farming. Furthermore, the byproducts generated during the protein extraction process (e.g., protein press cake from grassland forage) will be used effectively in the feed of ruminants (cattle, sheep, goats).
farm4more thus supports the expansion of organic farming in Europe. By providing high-quality natural amino acids, the efficiency of organic food production is increased and the existing protein gap is reduced. Compared to intensive agricultural systems, negative environmental impacts are minimized.
Emission reduction – biochar in animal feed
Thousands of years ago, advanced civilizations used coal to create fertile agricultural soils. Current scientific studies also point to the positive effects of high-quality feed charcoal in animal nutrition. "farm4more" investigates the use of feed charcoal in livestock with regard to its effects on animal health, nutrient utilization, and performance. There is great interest in current scientific findings on the emission reduction potential from livestock farming through the targeted use of feed charcoal.
farm4more comprehensively tests the use of feed charcoal in livestock (chickens, cattle) and explores the potential for innovations in feeding and animal husbandry with regard to emission reduction, nutrient efficiency, animal health, and performance.
Green bio-refineries – pilot plants in Austria
Together with partner companies, the "farm4more project" is constructing, testing, and optimizing pilot plants for extracting protein concentrates from grassland forage and for producing biochar from natural substrates (spelt husks, wood, etc.). The expertise gained will be used to establish regional small-scale plants. A key objective of the project is the production of marketable products related to amino acid extraction and biochar production.
farm4more is constructing pilot plants for extracting amino acids from grassland forage and for producing biochar from natural organic materials. These plants will be characterized, tested, and optimized within the project. The insights gained will be used in the development of marketable products.
Technical, ecological & economic assessment
The results achieved in the "farm4more project" from the construction and optimization of the pilot plants (amino acid production, feed charcoal production), the results of the investigations into the nutritional value of the products, and the data from feeding trials with cattle and chickens are subjected to rigorous evaluation according to scientific and market-related criteria (technical, ecological, and economic evaluation).
farm4more provides a comprehensive assessment of the innovations implemented in the project and thus enables an assessment of the potential for future implementation in the Common Agricultural Policy.
International unity
Stakeholder groups from across Europe are involved in the development and implementation work from the project phase onward. Results are subjected to critical discussion, and potential optimization and solutions are identified and implemented collaboratively.
farm4more integrates diverse groups along the agricultural value chain. This contributes to successful project implementation, acceptance of the project results, and the achievement of the project objectives.
Further information and contact details:
EU LIFE Project Lead Partner:
-UCD School of Biosystems & Food Engineering
IE D4 Dublin
www.ucd.ie/biosystems
Project Leader: Prof. Dr. Kevin McDonnell
-HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein
Higher Federal Teaching and Research Institute Raumberg-Gumpenstein
A-8952 Irdning-Donnersbachtal
www.raumberg-gumpenstein.at
Project contact person: Priv.-Doz. Dr. Andreas Steinwidder
Link to the project homepage:
http://www.farm4more.eu/
