Page 27 - Vol.40-No.4 issue

EuroTier 2024
Alternative proteins:

Feed from sustainable cycles

Plants, algae or upcycling: Inhouse
Farming – Feed & Food Show 2024 out-
lines new paths for agriculture – 12-15
November in Hanover, Germany
The second edition of the Inhouse Farm-
ing – Feed & Food Show will take place this
year from 12 to 15 November, serving as a
platform for self-contained agricultural and
food systems of the future, held in parallel
with EuroTier 2024 in Hanover, Germany.
One topic highlight will be the use of alter-
native protein sources such as animal feed.
However, only a few of the raw materials of
non-animal origin under consideration are
suitable for indoor cultivation. In practice,
algae have been the most convincing so far.
Peas, lupins and beans are domestic
protein crops that could replace imported
feedstu!s such as soy in the medium term.
However, they are currently not economi-
cally and ecologically attractive for indoor
farming in Northern Europe, as outdoor
cultivation is the more economically viable
alternative. Algae, on the other hand, are
ideally suited for protein production with
indoor systems. Nils Borchard, Head of Re- in animal feed. "The optimization of suit- The use of microalgae is already common
search and Innovation at the DLG's Center able algae strains, the implementation of practice in the breeding of "sh and crab
for Agriculture, sees the bene"ts primar- technological innovations and scaling up
ily in the more e!ective use of by-products to very large algae farms will be among the larvae in aquaculture. The "ne algae can
and residues: "Indoor approaches become keys to this," says Ullmann. "The ability to also be easily ingested by tiny young ani-
interesting when it comes to the use and re- grow algae proteins independently of ar- mals. The formulation of the algae nutrient
"nement of by-products and residues from able land and without the use of pesticides solution also allows essential nutrients to
food production. Various innovative ap- and too much reliance on the weather are
proaches are being tested here in order to important. Climate-resilience is a key word be transferred to the animals in a targeted
achieve upcycling. For example, algae can here, which means grow close to where manner.
be used to produce high-quality proteins or they are consumed with short transporta- Strengthening the image of
oils to enrich animal feed." tion routes. These are additional arguments
First algae production plants for the expansion of an algae industry." alternative proteins
already in operation With the 'EU4Algae project' and the 'Algae The Cubes Circle project, in which the cul-
for feed' working group, the topic is promi-
Algae have been included in the "posi- tivation of tomatoes, "sh and insects is inte-
tive list for straight feeding stu!s" and can nently anchored in the EU Commission's grated into a circular, closed indoor farming
'Maritime Forum'. In addition to knowledge
be used accordingly. In addition to the al- exchange and start-up support, the focus system without additives, emissions and
gae cultivation plant, only water, light and there is also on accompanying topics such
nutrients are required. The ecological foot- as training, market access and viable busi- waste, revealed other limitations beyond
print is strongly determined by the use of ness models. technology: accompanying psychological
renewable energies. Even if this type of feed studies on the acceptance of new agricultur-
production is not yet widespread, some Microalgae as food for humans al systems in urban areas showed that many
companies and research projects are work- and animals respondents are opposed to such technolo-
ing very speci"cally on this topic and have With their scalable, modular photobiore-
put the "rst plants into operation. gies. With an awareness of these solvable
actors from 6,000 liters, exhibitors such as problems that need to be discussed, pro-
Jörg Ullmann, member of the recently Dresden-based Puevit GmbH o!er a system
founded DLG committee "New Feed and for the industrial production of microalgae fessional visitors from the agricultural sec-
Food", has been successfully using microal- such as spirulina and chlorella, which are tor will "nd the best conditions at In-house
gae farming for two decades and, together suitable for both human and animal nutri- Farming to "nd out about the current status
with Algenfarm Klötze GmbH & Co. KG, has tion. The start-up promises an IIoT-capable
been successfully cultivating microalgae for full-service package with virtually uninter- of the use of alternative proteins as animal
twenty years. He is convinced that the im- rupted continuous operation of the sys- feed and to be inspired for lucrative future
portance of algae protein will also increase tems. business models. Circle 37 on enquiry card
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