Building beef & bison byproduct supply chains
Growing GRASS is supported by the USDA Advancing Markets for Producers (AMP) initiative and led by the American Sustainable Business Institute / Network and Other Half Processing
Regenerative grazing is on the rise. But for value to be carried through the supply chain, the whole animal must be utilized — from hides to bones to the organs within.
Growing GRASS is forging resilient supply chains that elevate the byproducts of regenerative cattle and bison. This benefits all of us: producers, processors, brands, consumers, and the planet.
About the Project
The Growing GRASS Value-Added U.S. Commodity Markets Project (Growing GRASS Project) will help U.S.-based beef and bison producers optimize total returns from their livestock, with a specific focus on regenerative markets, strengthened supply chain partnerships, and optimized valuation/use of byproducts.
Lower commodity prices for byproducts from processing beef cattle — especially hides — has meant that for many small & medium sized meat processors, these once-sellable products now are a waste & cost. At the same time, markets related to grassfed and regenerative, along with local and regional sourcing claims are growing that can offer US producers more value for both meat and byproducts.
But access to these markets can be costly and difficult for producers and processors alike, and byproduct collection infrastructure and markets are underdeveloped for these smaller processors and the regenerative sector.
Growing GRASS is intended to help address these barriers and allow for greater whole animal use and valuation while increasing local meat supply chain resiliency.
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Are you interested or involved in regenerative livestock grazing systems?
We remain open to new collaborations in our work to build strong, resilient supply chains for the byproducts of regeneratively raised cattle and bison. Whoever you are, however you are working for more resilient food systems — let’s connect!