An €8.7m farm-based bioeconomy demonstration project kicked off in Munster Technological University (MTU), Cork, in early December, aiming to demonstrate how the bioeconomy can benefit farms and rural communities.
The Rural BioReFarmeries (RBRF) demonstration initiative is funded by the Circular Bio-Based Europe Joint Undertaking, to deploy and optimise regional green biorefineries in grassland farming regions of Europe.
Grassland covers almost 35% of agricultural land in Europe and more than 90% in Ireland, and the Rural BioReFarmeries demonstration will introduce and scale technologies aimed at unlocking bioeconomy grassland opportunities, to bring major environmental, economic and social benefits for farmers and rural communities, provide a mechanism to generate new high value ingredients from grass, while complementing traditional farm enterprises.
Two primary green biorefinery and anaerobic digestion demonstration sites
The Rural BioReFarmeries project will demonstrate the potential of grassland biorefineries through the development of two primary green biorefinery and anaerobic digestion demonstration sites in Ireland and Denmark.
These sites will optimise the conversion of grasses, clover and green biomass residues sourced from local farms to co-produce value-added products such as human and animal grade protein, bio-based food packaging, high value flavours, anti-microbials and feed additives along with fertiliser and energy, in collaboration with downstream research and industrial sites in Netherlands, Ireland, Denmark and Poland.
According to coordinator James Gaffey, co-director of CircBio at MTU: “In a circular bioeconomy, we can produce, not only forage, but also food, high value materials and energy from grasslands.
"Green biorefineries are a key sustainable technology for realising this potential. Rural BioReFarmeries will help grassland farms become more self-sufficient by creating essential farm inputs like feed, fertilisers and energy, while co-producing additional food, monogastric feed concentrates and high value ingredients from their grass and farm residues.
"In doing so, the project will help farms to reduce inputs costs, create new revenue streams, and support them in meeting climate targets, while benefiting the local agricultural sector and broader society.”
Luisa Mascia, project officer at the CBE JU, said: “The Rural BioReFarmeries project kicks-off today with more than €8m in CBE JU funding to unlock the untapped potential of grass biomass.
New circular business models
"Two small scale biorefineries, in Ireland and Denmark, will deploy farmer-centred grass-based value chains, offering new circular business models, fully replicable across rural areas and regions in Europe.
"The project will boost rural resilience, diversify income for farmers and reduce emissions in the agri-food sector. Rural BioReFarmeries marks a new milestone for Europe’s circular bioeconomy, highlighting the strategic value of grassland valorisation.”
Junior agriculture minister Martin Heydon said: “I want to warmly congratulate all the consortia involved in ‘Rural BioReFarmeries’ for securing this €8.7m award from the CBE JU.
"In particular, I want to commend the coordinator, James Gaffey. It is very heartening to see success of this scale for a project led by an Irish researcher. It builds on previous support by my department for green biorefineries, an exciting area of research and innovation which has the potential to lead to new, high-value opportunities for our high-quality natural grass.”