Interreg project GrasGoed

In project GrasGoed, grass clippings are used as an innovative raw material. Nature managers, companies and knowledge institutions in the border region of Flanders and the Netherlands are thus giving the remains of nature management a second life.

When managing wet areas (e.g. reed beds, wet grasslands, wet heaths), grass clippings are often not used or used to a limited extent. A pity, because it involves thousands of tonnes a year! Not only is it logistically difficult to remove the clippings, dumping them is also an expensive business. This project solves those problems by improving mowing, transport and processing machines, developing new products and creating a market for them. 'GrassGoed - Natural Green as Raw Material' thus establishes sustainable chains of supply, collection, processing and marketing. The focus is on three nature areas in the border region: Grenspark Kalmthoutse Heide, Altena-Biesbosch-Vlijmens Ven and Dommeldal-Vallei van de Zwarte Beek.

These are the participants

Eleven partners work together for a smooth chain from grass to good. In Flanders, these are Natuurpunt, Inverde, Grenspark Kalmthoutse Heide and Vandervelden General Forestry. In the Netherlands, these are Vereniging Natuurmonumenten, Stichting het Noord-Brabants Landschap, Stichting Avans Hogeschool, Verschoor Groen en Recreatie, NF Fibre, Millvision and Grassa.

These are the partners

Interreg Flanders-Netherlands subsidises cross-border projects for smart, green and inclusive growth. This is funded from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The project also receives significant grants from the province of Antwerp and the province of North Brabant and is still seeking additional funding for the project. http://www.grensregio.eu/

First mow, then harvest

The aim of GrasGoed is to give grass clippings a second life as a sustainable product. To this end, in three regions, we bring together as much grassy biomass as possible to arrive at an economically interesting quantity. Improved mowing, pre-treatment and transport systems contribute to this: this makes the grass clippings easier to obtain and transport. Machines that destroy cellular structures of the grass are also adapted. We separate into fibres, proteins and cell juices and finally develop new, regional products based on those fibres, proteins and cell juices. Examples? Paper and cardboard, insulation material or peat-free potting soil from grass fibres. The protein concentrate and nutrient juice is used as animal feed or soil improver.