A paradigm shift in pellet manufacturing

Summary

To facilitate the transition towards a more circular food system, it is desirable to increasingly use livestock to upcycle human-inedible co-products of the food- and biofuel industry into high-quality food products. Due to the low density of coproducts, and livestock feed in general, it is often preferred to densify it into pellets, which allows for more efficient transport and storage. However, we still only limitedly understand how we can effectively incorporate these coproducts into a strong and durable feed pellet. In this thesis we explored what underlies the effect of coproducts on the pellet manufacturing process. Furthermore, we investigated how the possible negative effects of coproducts on pellet manufacturing can be overcome by adapting process settings. Through this manner, we hope to facilitate a further increase in the inclusion of coproducts in livestock feed, allowing for a more sustainable food system.