The manufacturer, like other industry players, is on the hunt for alternative feed protein ingredients.
The raw material to be evaluated is an organic protein concentrate made of grass harvested from 3,000 hectares of land in Denmark. Out of this, BioRefine, produces 7,000 tons of green protein concentrate applicable for animal nutrition per year.
The organic protein concentrate is an entirely new and locally produced raw material, with a similar nutrient profile to soybean meal, reported Aller Aqua.
And, due to its regionality, it could be a valuable raw material for reducing the carbon-footprint of fish feed, said the family-owned firm, which recently became the first fish feed company to label its feeds with their respective CO2 equivalent.
The functionality of BioRefine’s green protein will be evaluated for use in feed targeted at rainbow trout. Nutrient digestibility and growth trials will be run at Aller Aqua’s trial station located in Büsum, Germany.
“We are looking forward to be the first company testing and possibly later on including this raw material in our feed,” said Dr Hanno Slawski, group R&D director, Aller Aqua.
Local ingredients
Danish agriculture has been intensively researching and working to develop locally produced protein sources, to try and reduce the country’s dependence on soy imports.
Launched in March this year by three Danish agricultural cooperatives - DLG, Danish Agro and DLF – BioRefine’s goal is to create a climate and environment efficient alternative protein source for animal and fish feed.
The joint venture produces protein concentrate out of grass, clover and alfalfa.
Vagn Hundebøll, CEO of BioRefine, said the company is intending to establish more biorefineries to, eventually, increase the proportion of feed protein ingredients produced in Denmark.