Grasslands could enhance Denmark’s Green agreement amid agricultural transformation

Grass has received scant mention in the recently established Green Denmark agreement, signed by the government and various stakeholders in June. The agreement mandates that more than 15% of Denmark’s total agricultural land be converted to natural habitats, particularly to benefit the country’s fjords, which are struggling with oxygen depletion due to nitrogen runoff from farming.

The plan involves the government purchasing agricultural land to be replanted with forests or converting agricultural fields into fallow land, wetlands, or meadows. The estimated cost for this initiative is at least 40 billion kroner. However, experts and farmers argue that repurposing some agricultural land into grasslands could be a more beneficial alternative.

Uffe Jørgensen, a professor at Aarhus University, highlights that integrating grassland cultivation could significantly reduce nitrogen release into waters surrounding Limfjorden, thus promoting healthier ecosystems. Additionally, farmers, including Lars Kristensen, advocate for grass cultivation, asserting that fallow land does not sustain jobs or communities.

Grass can thrive year-round and efficiently absorb nutrients, thereby reducing nutrient runoff that leads to oxygen depletion in water bodies. Furthermore, grass can be utilized in biogas production, potentially serving as a sustainable energy source if regulations permit its increased use.

Grass protein has the potential to replace imported soybean protein in animal feed, addressing concerns about deforestation linked to soybean farming in South America. This shift could enhance Denmark’s self-sufficiency in protein production, while also creating rural employment opportunities and promoting biodiversity in the countryside.