INNOVATION PILOTS

Bringing regenerative feed solutions from lab to farm

NUTRIFEEDS is not only about research — it’s about real impact on the ground.
Through three Innovation Pilots, the project validates its most promising technologies and practices under real farm and industrial conditions across Europe. 

 

These pilots are designed to test, adapt, and demonstrate how regenerative feed innovations can perform in practice — ensuring the solutions we develop are scalable, sustainable, and ready for uptake by farmers, feed producers, and policymakers. 

 

Each pilot integrates expertise from multiple partners and Work Packages, linking feedstock valorisation (WP3), feeding strategies (WP5), on-farm validation (WP6), and assessment & data tools (WP4–WP7). 

1. Insect Upcycling Pilot

Transforming organic residues into sustainable protein sources

This pilot focuses on the use of black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) to convert selected agri-food side-streams into high-value protein ingredients for livestock feed. Building on the substrate collection and characterisation work carried out in WP2, the most promising materials are tested as feed for BSFL to evaluate their performance in real upcycling scenarios.

The process embodies circular bioeconomy principles, turning what would otherwise be low-value or wasted biomass into nutritionally rich, locally produced protein, and helping to reduce Europe’s dependence on imported soy and fishmeal.

Within this pilot, partners:

  • assess the bioconversion efficiency of different organic residues when used as BSFL feed
  • characterise the nutritional composition and quality of insect-derived feed ingredients
  • develop and test upscaling strategies using an industrial R&D pilot-scale facility, in order to estimate the environmental footprint and practical feasibility of larger-scale BSFL production for feeding trials.


The results will provide a robust model for sustainable insect protein value chains, contributing to waste reduction, resource efficiency, and greater local feed autonomy in European livestock systems.

🔬 This pilot corresponds to activities in WP2 – Substrate collection, characterisation and insect upcycling, led by FBN and ETH Zürich, with key contributions from FUB, UM, HMU and other consortium partners.

2. Targeted Fermentation Pilot

Unlocking the full potential of feed ingredients through microbial innovation

Fermentation is a natural and powerful process that can significantly improve the nutritional, functional, and safety profile of feed ingredients. 
In this pilot, NUTRIFEEDS applies advanced fermentation and bioprocessing to plant-based and side-stream materials to: 

 

  • Increase protein digestibility and bioavailability. 
  • Reduce antinutritional compounds (e.g., tannins, phytates). 
  • Enhance nutrient stability and shelf life. 

 

By combining biochemical engineering and microbial optimization, the Targeted Fermentation Pilot delivers improved feed components that enhance animal growth, gut health, and overall performance — while lowering feed conversion ratios and environmental impact. 

 

This pilot also explores industrial scalability of fermentation systems, bridging laboratory innovation with commercial feasibility. 

🔬 Led by UM and HMU within WP3, in collaboration with Fermentationexperts AS (FE) and KTU.

3. Regenerative Farm & Silvopasture Pilot

Integrating livestock, trees, and soil regeneration for resilient farming

The third NUTRIFEEDS pilot brings the project’s innovations directly to the field. 

 

It tests regenerative farm models that combine innovative feed formulations with silvopasture systems, where livestock graze under trees or mixed vegetation that supports biodiversity, soil carbon storage, and animal welfare. 

 

This pilot assesses: 

  • How regenerative feed formulations (from Pilots 1 & 2) perform in real farming environments. 
  • The effects on soil health, carbon sequestration, and biodiversity. 
  • The potential for reducing methane emissions and improving nutrient cycling. 
  • The social and economic viability of integrating regenerative feeding and farming practices. 

 

These activities will demonstrate how regenerative feed strategies can simultaneously improve animal performance, farm profitability, and ecosystem resilience — paving the way for scalable circular livestock systems in Europe. 

🔬 Led by UN and UO under WP6, with contributions from UH, AU, TP, and FBN.

💡 From Research to Real-World Change

Together, these Innovation Pilots bridge science and practice, translating NUTRIFEEDS’ research outputs into solutions that can be adopted across Europe.
They connect laboratory innovation with field validation, offering a tangible path toward: 

  • Reduced dependency on imported feed protein. 
  • Regenerative and circular livestock systems. 
  • Measurable climate and biodiversity benefits. 
  • Healthier animals and resilient farming communities
     

🧭 The NUTRIFEEDS pilots are the backbone of our mission: to nourish Europe’s future through regenerative livestock feed.