Sustainable transformation of waste from the potato industry into novel feedstock

Project lead: Whole Green Foods

Project overview

This project focuses on the sustainable transformation of waste from the potato industry into a novel feedstock to replace or complement existing grain feed.

While other research has previously been conducted on the use of potato waste as a suitable animal feed, the transformational nature of the project is primarily embodied in the use of a revolutionary processing technology (WINX™) with the potential to enhance the bioavailability of ingredients. This, in turn, will likely increase livestock productivity through improvements in feed conversion ratio.

An additional aim of the project, and of general livestock productivity improvements, is a reduction in carbon emissions both through an improvement in production efficiencies, and through an optimised usage of potato waste that would otherwise (to a large extent) contribute to landfill.

Expected outcomes

The key objectives and expected outcomes of the project are as follows:

1. Design and optimise a scaled-up commercial process (WINX™ processing technology) to manufacture potato peel-based feed product for a range of livestock.
2. Generate evidence demonstrating efficiency of potato peel-based feed product using animal model studies.
3. Determine what ancillary processes are needed to accomplish high feed rates, dewatering, transportation and storage of feed product.
4. Manufacture sufficient potato peel-based feed product for follow-on studies to elucidate its influence on carbon emissions.

This project is supported by the South-West WA Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub, through funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund.