Dutch Startup Grassa Secures €3.6 Million for Innovative Grass Protein Technology
Wageningen, Monday, 7 April 2025.
Grassa, a Dutch company, raised €3.6 million to enhance their grass protein technology, aiming to lower nitrogen emissions and offer sustainable protein alternatives, benefiting both cattle feed and human consumption.
Innovative Solution for Nitrogen Reduction
Grassa’s groundbreaking technology addresses a critical environmental challenge by reducing nitrogen emissions through two distinct mechanisms. The process lowers protein content in grass, which directly leads to reduced nitrogen emissions from cattle, while simultaneously providing a sustainable alternative to imported soy, thereby decreasing reliance on imported nitrogen [1]. The company plans to demonstrate with 25 to 50 dairy farmers that their technology can extract 50% of the protein from grass without affecting milk production, significantly reducing nitrogen levels in manure [1].
Strategic Investment and Market Expansion
The €3.6 million funding, secured on March 28, 2025, comes from multiple strategic investors including Perspectieffonds Gelderland, Fransen Gerrits, and Brightlands Venture Partners [5]. According to Rieks Smook, CEO of Grassa, the investment will facilitate the scaling up of their grass pressing operations at sites in both Gelderland and North Holland provinces [1]. The company’s first production facility is scheduled to be operational by 2028, initially focusing on the pet food market while maintaining food-grade standards for future market expansion [1].
Environmental and Economic Benefits
The technology offers significant economic advantages for farmers who currently face costs associated with manure disposal. As stated by CEO Rieks Smook: ‘In the Netherlands, farmers currently have to pay for manure disposal. However, we’ve already demonstrated that using this product reduces nitrogen levels in manure, meaning farmers have less manure to dispose of - cutting both volume and costs’ [1]. The innovation has garnered international attention, with Denmark leading the way in recognizing the value of grass-based protein, offering subsidies and grants for biorefinery construction [1].
Future Prospects and Industry Support
Industry leaders have expressed strong support for Grassa’s innovation. Huub Fransen, CEO of Fransen Gerrits, emphasizes: ‘As a feed producer, we are constantly looking for ways to feed animals more efficiently and reduce the footprint of meat, milk, and eggs. With Grassa, we make better use of grass, reducing the milk footprint and allowing farmers to maximize their grassland’ [1]. The technology also produces concentrates rich in Fructo-Oligosaccharides (FOS), which enhance the immune system of monogastric animals through prebiotic effects [1].