鈥淚 think we need to find other uses for grass than growing it to feed cows. Grass is a very valuable crop in the crop rotation, particularly here, where we get a lot of rainfall. It is good for the soil and also gives us the highest dry matter yield per hectare of any crop we grow in this area,鈥� says Johan Christensson, who runs Klevs G氓rd in the coastal landscape of Soten盲s municipality.
Ulrik Svedin
鈥淲ithout being dependent on cows or other animals to eat it. We have other uses in mind."
Extracted
In simple terms, protein is extracted from fresh grass by pressing out the juice and heating it. The protein coagulates and can then be separated. Around 15鈥�20 per cent can be recovered as protein.
鈥淚t can then be processed and used in fish feed, or as feed for pigs and other animals that do not normally eat grass. It could also, for example, be made into pellets and fed to other animals. Perhaps it could even be used as food for people.鈥�
The residual material accounts for around 75鈥�80 per cent of the total biomass. That is why they need to start at the other end of the process.
鈥淎 biogas plant has to be the hub of the project. The residual materials, such as fibres and sugars, may be put to other uses in the future. But today, biogas production is the best way of making use of them.鈥�
We want to show that the biogas plant
is the hub of the project聽
So far, they have brought together 40鈥�45 farmers who will be given the opportunity to join forces in a limited company. They will become shareholders in a company that will produce biogas.
鈥淲e want to show that the biogas plant is the hub of the project. Once it is in place, there will be opportunities to invest in, for example, a biorefinery and better solutions for digestate, which needs to become easier to transport,鈥� says Johan Christensson.
Many projects
The Christensson family at Klevs G氓rd have many projects under way. These include their own biochar production unit and a farm shop. Johan Christensson also collaborates with organisations such as Rena Hav, which produces biogas from residual materials from the fishing industry.
鈥淲orking together with neighbouring farms and other stakeholders will only become more important in the future,鈥� says Johan Christensson.
