Environmental consequences of pig production scenarios using biomass from rotational grass-clover leys as feed

Protein Fractionation of Leafy Green Biomass at the Pilot Scale: Partitioning and Type of Nitrogen in the Fractions and Their Usefulness for Food and Feed

“…The P, GP, and GJ/GP fractions are good sources of protein for feed to ruminants, pigs, and chickens, respectively, apart from some biomass sources high in nitrate, e.g., hemp. Thus, the use of green biomass to produce protein to feed animals does not only offer a climate-friendly option, 7 but has also the potential to provide nutrition to animals. Both the GP and WP were found as good sources of protein for human food, independent of the biomass source.…”

“…Protein concentrates rich in RuBisCO have a high nutritional value and significant functional properties, which strongly enhances their attractiveness as a food ingredient. , The use of protein from green biomass as a feed source is beneficial as currently, it does not contribute negatively to the food-feed competition, which is in place for some plant protein sources. Also, the negative impact of meat production is reduced if protein from green biomass is used as feed, e.g., the climate impact of pork is decreased by 17% when fed grass-clover protein . The concept of using green leafy biomass as a protein source is not new (the history is comprehensively reviewed by Domokos-Szabolcsy et al), but the development of novel technologies and processes, together with an ever more urgent need for alternative protein sources, has resulted in a renewed interest in this protein source…”

“…6 Therefore, finding alternative sources of high-quality protein to feed both humans and domesticated animals is of utmost importance, and of equal importance is that these alternatives offer mitigations of the negative impacts, or at least cause minimal environmental burden. 1,7 Several promising alternative protein sources for food and feed are suggested in the literature, e.g., insects, 8 algae, 9 and green leafy biomass, the latter is globally available in large quantities in the form of plant leaves. 10−12 This feedstock contains the protein ribulose-1,5-bisphospate-carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCO), which catalyzes carbon fixation in the photosynthetic cycle.…”

“…Also, the negative impact of meat production is reduced if protein from green biomass is used as feed, e.g., the climate impact of pork is decreased by 17% when fed grass-clover protein. 7 The concept of using green leafy biomass as a protein source is not new (the history is comprehensively reviewed by Domokos-Szabolcsy et al), 10 but the development of novel technologies and processes, together with an ever more urgent need for alternative protein sources, has resulted in a renewed interest in this protein source. 18 Conversion of green biomass to valuable protein for food and feed, while using the side-streams as feed, biofertilizer, and/or bioenergy, is perceived as a feasible, sustainable, and circular system to produce future products, 21 especially if a large diversity of green biomass can be utilized to cover availability across years, seasons and site.…”

“…Meat consumption at its current level, and with current production systems, is unsustainable as the requirements of resources, such as land and energy, for each protein unit are too high. , Additionally, the system in Western countries to feed ruminants, horses, pigs, and chickens with soy mainly produced in South America contributes negatively to the sustainability of the food system . Therefore, finding alternative sources of high-quality protein to feed both humans and domesticated animals is of utmost importance, and of equal importance is that these alternatives offer mitigations of the negative impacts, or at least cause minimal environmental burden. , …”