Munster Technological University (MTU) has unveiled a pilot green biorefinery at its Kerry Campus, a landmark step in Ireland’s move towards sustainable agriculture and a circular bioeconomy.

The facility converts grass, clover, and green leaves into high-value products, including human-grade protein, animal feed, prebiotics, flavours, and bioenergy.

The project builds on MTU’s ongoing research through initiatives such as Rural BioReFarmeries and Biorefinery Glas, led by the Circular Bioeconomy Research Group (CircBio). Prior studies have demonstrated that grass protein concentrate can feed cattle, pigs, and poultry while co-producing additional high-value outputs, reducing dependence on imported feed.

James Gaffey, principal investigator for Green Biorefinery Research at MTU, said: “As the only country in Europe with more than 50% grassland, Ireland is uniquely positioned to play a leading role in the development of green biorefining. By extracting food and feed-grade proteins and value-added co-products from grass we can reduce costly imports and lower our carbon footprint, while increasing local resilience and strengthening the competitiveness of our farming and agri-food industries. This new pilot facility is the first of its kind in Ireland, and complements our excellent track record of research in this space. It offers a great platform for us to scale this research and test these innovation opportunities with industry.”

Hugh McGlynn, VP of Research at MTU, said: “This scale-up of MTU’s green biorefinery research activity is a landmark moment for MTU and for Ireland. By turning our grasslands into new opportunities, we are helping rural Ireland prosper into the future.”

Discover how MTU is transforming grasslands into sustainable food and energy solutions across Ireland in the full story.

Photo credits to MTU’s LinkedIn