Innovative Products from Grass Biomass to Be Produced in Latvia; First Trials Begin

Trials have started within the project “LIFE UpcyclingGrass”, implemented by the Latvian Fund for Nature and its partners. Using innovative technologies, the project will produce products from grass biomass, including low-quality hay, straw, and reeds. The new products — substrates for seedling cultivation, animal bedding, feed additives, and soil fertilizers — will have a lower climate impact than those currently on the market. Moreover, the collection of biomass will promote the restoration of natural grasslands. The project “LIFE UpcyclingGrass” will run until 2028, by which time the new products are expected to be fully launched on the market.

“Managing specially protected nature areas generates a lot of low-quality hay, because mowing takes place late to allow birds to complete their nesting period. By that time, the hay has become coarse and cannot be used as animal feed. I’ve been thinking for years about how to make use of this biomass — a valuable but unused resource — and now, together with the Latvian Fund for Nature and other partners, we’re starting pellet production, which will form the basis for new products,”
says Jurijs Prokofjevs, owner of SIA “Sita Nature Park” and one of the project’s initiators.

Natural grasslands in Latvia are disappearing habitats, covering only 0.9% of the country’s territory. Their preservation requires management — grass mowing at specific times. Often, the late-mown grass can no longer be used as fodder, and many meadow owners are unable to sell what they cut, resulting in unused biomass.

This spring, within the project “LIFE UpcyclingGrass”, a mobile pellet production unit was purchased and installed at Jurijs Prokofjevs’ farm “Sita Nature Park.” There, the biomass is processed into grass pellets. The first batches, made from biomass harvested in the floodplains of the Sita and Pededze rivers, have already been produced. These pellets have been delivered to the project partner SIA “Bioefekts”, which is testing the cultivation of various microorganisms on them to develop and further trial new products — animal bedding, seedling substrates, soil fertilizers, and microorganism-enriched feed additives for dairy and beef cattle.

Some of these products — substrates and fertilizers — are intended as alternatives to peat-based products. Peat extraction has a significant climate impact, so these new products will offer more climate-friendly options, reducing agriculture’s footprint. Besides, grass-pellet bedding for animals is produced and in high demand in other countries but remains scarce on the market, giving the project strong export potential.

Alongside production, the project will carry out research to assess the life-cycle of biomass pellet manufacturing, its impact on GHG emissions, and its effects on grassland restoration and ecosystem services. The project will also develop a marketing strategy for the new products, identify potential markets, and begin sales and testing of the first production batches among target audiences.

“This is an innovative and unprecedented pilot project in Latvia — one might call it a start-up that combines nature, climate, and business. We are applying circular economy principles, implementing nature conservation, and creating new business opportunities. The scientific assessment, conducted alongside practical work, will help us design the best possible model for such synergy,”
says Laura Zvingule, project manager of LIFE UpcyclingGrass at the Latvian Fund for Nature.

The new products are expected to be available commercially by the end of the project. Project partners include SIA “Sita Nature Park”, Baltijas Krasti, the Forest Research Institute “Silava”, SIA “Bioefekts”, and the lead partner, the Latvian Fund for Nature.

The project “LIFE UpcyclingGrass: A Pilot Project of Technological Solutions for Sustainable and Climate-Friendly Grassland Biomass Management” is funded by the EU LIFE Programme, with co-financing from the Latvian state budget through the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development, as well as partner contributions.
The project’s total budget is €5,655,752.50, and it will continue until 2028.