Assessing the Environmental Footprint of Alternative Green Biorefinery Protein Extraction Techniques From Grasses and Legumes

Authors

James Gaffey, School of Engineering and AMBER, University of Limerick, Limerick, V94 T9PX, Ireland; Circular Bioeconomy Research Group, Shannon Applied Biotechnology Centre, Munster Technological University, Tralee, V92 CX88, Ireland; BiOrbic, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4 D04 V1W8, IrelandFollow
Andres Arce Martinez, School of Biological and Chemical Sciences and Ryan Institute, University of Galway, University Road, Galway, H91 REW4, Ireland
Thalles Allan Andrade, Aarhus University Centre for Circular Bioeconomy, Aarhus University, Viborg, Denmark; Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
Morten Ambye-Jensen, Aarhus University Centre for Circular Bioeconomy, Aarhus University, Viborg, Denmark; Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
George Bishop, School of Biological and Chemical Sciences and Ryan Institute, University of Galway, University Road, Galway, H91 REW4, Ireland
Maurice N. Collins, School of Engineering and AMBER, University of Limerick, Limerick, V94 T9PX, Ireland; BiOrbic, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4 D04 V1W8, Ireland
David Styles, School of Engineering and AMBER, University of Limerick, Limerick, V94 T9PX, Ireland; School of Biological and Chemical Sciences and Ryan Institute, University of Galway, University Road, Galway, H91 REW4, Ireland; BiOrbic, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4 D04 V1W8, Ireland

ORCID

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2272-6921

Document Type

Article

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Disciplines

Agriculture | Life Sciences

Publication Details

Science of the Total Environment, vol 949. © 2024 The Authors.

Abstract

The significant grasslands of Europe and its member states represents a significant feedstock opportunity for circular bioeconomy development. The development of green biorefineries (GBR), to supply protein for the feed industry from grass, could help many European member states to address significant deficits in protein availability and reduce imports. The current study assesses the environmental footprint of alternative GBR protein extraction techniques from grasses and legumes using life cycle assessment. The focus is on comparing feedstock and technology pathways that could displace soya bean imports. The study finds that leaf protein concentrate (LPC) produced from grass had an improved environmental performance when compared to soya bean meal (SBM), across the assessed feedstock (perennial ryegrass or grass-clover mixtures) and technology pathways (one-stage maceration versus multi-stage maceration). For example, in the case of Climate Change the emission intensity for LPC was 57–85 % lower per tonne of crude protein (CP) compared with SBM. Acidification burdens were 54–88 % lower, and Eutrophication: Freshwater burdens were 74–89 % lower. Some scenarios of GBR produced LPC with a larger Energy Resources: Non-Renewable burden than SBM, though this could be mitigated with higher renewable energy (biogas and wind energy) integration within the scenario. Grass-clover scenarios generally achieved a lower intensity of emissions compared to ryegrass scenarios, particularly in the category of Climate Change, where feedstock cultivation represented a significant contributor to impacts. Overall, GBR can produce high quality protein with a lower environmental burden than SBM, but choice of feedstock and system design are critical factors for overall environmental performance.

Recommended Citation

James Gaffey, Andres Arce Matinez, Thalles Allan Andrade, Morten Ambye-Jensen, George Bishop, Maurice N. Collins, David Styles, Assessing the environmental footprint of alternative green biorefinery protein extraction techniques from grasses and legumes, Science of The Total Environment, Volume 949, 2024, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.175035.