Forever Feed Technologies (FFT), has entered into a definitive agreement with Dr. Greenhouse Inc., to design the controlled environment for what is poised to become the world's largest sustainable animal feed mill. The facility will be located at the River Ranch Dairy in Hanford, California, and is set to use Automated Sprouted Grain (ASG) to nourish more than 5,000 dairy cows. FFT anticipates that the indoor feed mill will commence production in late 2024.
Jack de Jong, owner of River Ranch Farms and chairman of Forever Feed Technologies, expressed confidence in the project's potential to enhance herd health and productivity while reducing methane emissions.
"According to research and controlled trials, we are confident that ASG supplemented feed will increase the health and production of our herd while reducing methane emissions," de Jong said. He further highlighted the role of Dr. Greenhouse in optimizing the output of the FFT Feed Mill, emphasizing the substantial reductions in water, land, fuel and fertilizer requirements compared to traditional forage farming.
Established in 2017, Dr. Greenhouse has been a leader in providing consulting and engineering design services for more than 180 controlled environment agriculture (CEA) indoor farms worldwide. The collaboration between FFT and Dr. Greenhouse aims to leverage state-of-the-art climate technologies and experience-driven growing practices to design the leading indoor environment for animal feed agriculture.
Dr. Nadia Sabeh, President and Founder of Dr. Greenhouse Inc., expressed enthusiasm for the project's potential impact on dairy production and the broader industry's sustainability goals: "As the first project of its kind in the dairy business, River Ranch Dairy and Forever Feed Technologies can change the course of dairy production and help the industry reach its goal of being 'climate neutral' by 2050."
The initiative aligns with the broader benefits of Controlled Environment Agriculture, allowing local and regional communities to diversify and secure their food sources while reducing reliance on international supply chains. Locally grown indoor crops contribute to cost savings, a reduced carbon footprint associated with food miles, and mitigate risks related to water and weather disruptions.
Nathan Bastow, senior vice president of engineering services at Forever Feed Technologies, emphasized the critical nature of automated growing systems and controlled environment engineering to maximize germination and nutritional efficiency: "We are confident the Dr. Greenhouse team will meet our goal to deliver high-value ASG Feed around the clock for farmers."
In collaboration with JR Automation, as previously announced, Dr. Greenhouse will work with Forever Feed Technologies to construct the first production FFT Feed Mill at the River Ranch Dairy later this year. The project signifies a significant leap forward in sustainable animal feed production and sets the stage for a more environmentally conscious future in dairy farming.
