ABOUT PROJECT

Objective
WP1 ensures effective project coordination, smooth cooperation among partners, and timely delivery of all obligations. It oversees planning, progress monitoring, issue resolution, internal quality assurance, and the preparation of required reports and documentation for the grant authority.

Progress Summary
A project steering group—composed of lead representatives from all partners—was established at the first meeting. Regular steering, planning, management, and financial meetings support ongoing coordination across the consortium. Project progress is assessed via annual self-assessment.

In 2024, two one-day consortium meetings introduced LIFE programme requirements, established internal communication processes, reviewed the project timetable, and guided the planning of initial actions. The first two-day consortium meeting in May 2025 focused on progress across work packages, monitoring programmes, and key deliverables, while also providing a platform for partner exchange.

The LIFE Key Project Indicators (KPIs), which cover environmental and socio-economic results, were prepared and entered into the KPI web tool. These indicators will be updated again at the end of the project to reflect final outcomes.

Results: Extract of the project data from LIFE KPI web-tool 1

Overall Objective
Work Package 2 prepares the foundation for new grassland-biomass products and mobile pelleting services. Its goals include exploring product and market opportunities, establishing a life-cycle assessment (LCA) framework, assessing raw material availability and technical options, and securing long-term biomass supply agreements.

Progress Summary
The team has begun analysing market prospects for new grassland-biomass products, such as seedling substrate with microorganisms, microbiological fertilisers, animal bedding with microbial enrichment and composting promoter, and fodder products with microorganisms. Early LCA work is already integrated into product development.

Work is underway to secure long-term biomass supply agreements with farmers and landowners. With the mobile pelleting unit now operational, negotiations will continue into spring 2026.

A major milestone is the technical readiness of microorganism-enriched pellets. Production systems have been validated, prototypes produced, and initial field tests confirm strong potential for agricultural, forestry, and livestock applications. These developments support climate-smart, circular bioeconomy solutions.

Results: Business opportunities using products made from grassland biomass

Objective
WP3 pilots practical solutions for integrating grassland biomass into production cycles. It aims to establish a mobile pelleting facility and develop new biomass-based products that can substitute fossil-based materials, including product testing and future certification.

Progress Summary
The mobile pelleting facility is partially implemented, with core components delivered, installed, and tested. First pellets were produced in early May. Calibration and operator training continue, and additional systems—cooling and packaging—will follow.

In parallel, Bioefekts has fully equipped its laboratory and begun developing new biomass-based products, including seedling substrate with microorganisms, microbiological fertilisers, animal bedding with microbial enrichment and composting promoter, and fodder products with microorganisms. Early results show good microbial stability and promising functional performance. Field validation is underway, with fertiliser tests on oilseed rape and further trials planned in nurseries, livestock farms, and research institutions.

Next steps include product certification and registration in Latvia, followed by EU mutual recognition and ECOCERT documentation for organic farming. Field trials in Denmark and Poland will support export readiness.

Objective
WP4 ensures that the project’s climate-smart land-use solutions and circular biomass systems can be replicated and transferred across regions. It strengthens the long-term sustainability and practical utilisation of project results, builds stakeholder networks, and supports the integration of climate-smart practices into future policy.

Progress Summary
A comprehensive Replicability and Transferability Strategy is under development. It will include an Action Plan and practical tools to guide the adoption of project solutions across Latvia and Europe, addressing partner selection, site identification, financing options, and knowledge transfer.

Stakeholder engagement is advancing. A preliminary stakeholder map identifies key actors from agriculture, policy, research, and landowner sectors. This will expand as new test sites and municipalities join.

A major WP4 achievement is the launch of the Hay Market platform—an online tool connecting grassland owners, pellet producers, and users. It enables resource exchange, provides information on grassland type and quality, and supports regional cooperation. Promotion and cluster-building activities will follow.

Business and marketing activities have started. An Integrated Marketing and Communication Strategy has been created to guide positioning, messaging, and visual identity. Business planning for the pelleting facility and new product categories is underway, supported by market research showing increasing demand for sustainable, peat-free, compostable alternatives.

Results:

Collaboration platform “Hay Market”: https://www.plavusavedejs.lv/

LIFE UPcyclingGrass Marketing and Communication Strategy

Objective
WP5 systematically monitors and evaluates environmental, social, and economic impacts to ensure project goals are achieved and risks are addressed early. Work includes Greenhouse gases (GHG) assessment, socio-economic monitoring, ecosystem-service evaluation, and evidence-building for policy integration.

Progress Summary
The work package measures GHG emissions across sectors, tracks soil health and nutrient retention, and evaluates crop growth. Comprehensive monitoring programmes and methodologies have been developed for assessing GHG emissions from agricultural lands, animal husbandries, forestry, and horticulture. Climate-friendly solutions such as microbial bedding and feed pellets are tested for their potential to reduce methane and ammonia emissions. The project also analyses the impact of replacing peat with grass-based substrates on plant growth, CO₂ balance, and decomposition.

Monitoring includes the performance of the circular business model—pellet quality, production costs, market demand, and scalability. Ecosystem services such as biodiversity, soil fertility, carbon storage, and water regulation are assessed, with methodologies currently being validated. Socio-economic indicators are tracked using baseline surveys and targeted metrics.

Future work involves assessing the effects of grass-based fertilisers and composted bedding on soil and water, evaluating cattle feed pellets on livestock performance, and integrating findings to inform policy recommendations.

Results:

Methodology for monitoring GHG emission reductions and CO2 removals

Methodology for the measurements under Task 5.1.3 in the forestry pilot

Objective
WP6 ensures efficient internal communication and strengthens project visibility through targeted outreach. It raises public awareness about climate change and promotes the benefits of project-developed products supporting climate-smart agriculture.

Progress Summary
A coordinated communication strategy is established. The project website serves as the main information hub and will expand as new products become available. Social media channels promote climate change, sustainable agriculture, and biodiversity topics. Media coverage has begun, with plans for additional stories and interviews.

Informative materials are being developed. The first factsheet, “Agriculture and Climate Change” is published, and 11 more factsheets on circular and climate-smart farming will follow, targeted also to schools and teachers. Digital newsletters provide updates on research, field trials, milestones, and events.

Upcoming activities will strengthen public awareness and involve farmers, businesses, policymakers, and students. Workshops, demonstrations, and outreach events will highlight climate-smart practices and practical biomass solutions.

Networking and knowledge exchange will continue through partnerships, working groups, seminars, conferences, and cooperation with other LIFE projects.

Capacity-building will begin once the first products are validated, offering trainings, practical materials, case study visits, and lectures to support adoption of climate-friendly land-use and biomass solutions.

Results:

Factsheet “Agriculture and Climate Change” – Page 1

Factsheet “Agriculture and Climate Change” – Page 2

Project’s web page https://upcyclinggrass.ldf.lv/

Project’s newsletter No.1