The GO-GRASS final conference was a two-day event that took place on 12-13 March 2024.
We had about 60 participants with us in Brussels and about 40 listening online. A great turnout, despite the many national and international public transport strikes that unfortunately took place.
Were you unable to attend our final event in person? That’s no problem at all! You can watch the recording of the event on March 12th, directly here on the right-hand side. You can also download the printed materials we distributed digitally here.
Recap of the event
Day 1
The first conference day was packed with insights, discussions, and connections that truly fueled our passion for grass-based businesses. Here’s a glimpse into the sessions we had:
🌱 Demo Sites Showcase:
Our demo leaders shared captivating stories and learnings from the past four years at our four demo sites.
💼 Business Insights:
During this session, we explored the nuanced aspects of grass-based business models, value chains, and strategies for replication.
📊 Tool Exploration:
From innovative business tools to comprehensive guides, we delved into the array of resources developed during the GO-GRASS project. The meet-and-greet during the lunch break was the perfect opportunity to dive deeper into these tools, complemented by a handy booklet summarizing our tools.
🌍 Policy Perspectives:
We gained valuable insights into policy strategies and best practices within and beyond the scope of GO-GRASS. From stakeholder engagement to future opportunities outlined by the European Commission, the discussions broadened our understanding of the evolving landscape.
💬 Panel Discussion:
“Revitalising Rural Areas: Policy, Practice, and Partnership” was the highlight of the day, featuring a stellar line up of experts including representatives from the European Commission, regional offices, academic institutions, the farming community and industry leaders. The diverse perspectives shared sparked thought-provoking dialogues on shaping the future of grassland management and industry.
Check out the presentations:
- GO-GRASS in a nutshell (PDF) – Philipp Grundmann (PI in GO-GRASS), Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy
- Animal bedding in Sweden (PDF) – Susanne Paulrud, Research Institutes of Sweden
- Biochar in Germany (PDF) – Thomas Hoffmann, Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy
- Grass paper in the Netherlands (PDF) – Gosse Hiemstra, Hiemstra Bruin
- Protein and animal feed in Denmark (PDF) – Morten Ambye-Jensen, Aarhus University
- Four grass-based circular business models and lessons learned (PDF) – Carmen Socaciu, Gate2Growth
- Innovative value chains (PDF) – Hyunjin Park, Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy
- Replication potential in Romania (PDF) – Ion Georgescu, Asociatia Romana Pentru Agricultura Durabile
- Business Environment Profiling Tool (PDF) – Richard Orozco, Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy
- Decision Support Tool (PDF) – Hercules Panoutsopoulos, Agricultural University of Athens
- Business Plan Writer (PDF) – Anna Paulusz, Gate2Growth
- Insights and future opportunities from DG RTD and DG Agri at European Commision (PDF) – Tomasz Calikowski, DG RTD, European Commision
- Opportunities and insights from engaging with stakeholders and citizens (PDF) – Sara Chiba, Prospex Institute
- GO-GRASS Policy recommendations (PDF) – María Rosa Mosquera Losada, University Santiago de Compostela
- Future pathways for grassland management (PDF) – Paul Newell-Price, PI of SUPER-G
- Future pathways for Industry (PDF) – James Gaffey, Munster Technological University and Biorefinery Glas
- Best practices to be adopted by MarginUp! (PDF) – Philipp Grundmann, Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy
- Grass, the triple-win crop (PDF) – Steen Bitsch, CEO of Vestjyllands Andel
Day 2
At the end of an exciting day in Brussels we journeyed to the Netherlands in the afternoon. A delightful dinner together, strengthened us for the next day.
On day 2, our group ventured to the ACRRES facility in Lelystad by bus. We received a warm welcome from demo leaders Gosse Hiemstra and Rommie Van Der Weide. Afterwards Stefan Hol and Kimberly Wevers from ACRRES provided an insightful tour of the demo site.
After a lunch break, we boarded the bus again and headed to Schut Papier, the oldest paper factory in the Netherlands. Rene Kort (director of Schut Papier) greeted us warmly and gave us a presentation on the factory’s operations. Afterwards, together with him and his colleague Reka Szigeti (SCHUT Papier’s R&D team), we then explored the factory firsthand with a comprehensive tour.
Photos
Coming soon.
