Last Updated on December 19, 2025 by Florian
Our Elephant Grass Farming & Biomass Supply Open Day on 26 November 2025 proved a great success, with around 60 attendees joining Terravesta in Gelsted, Fyn, for a day of insights, field demonstrations, and lively discussion about the future of elephant grass (Miscanthus) in Denmark.
Hosted at Ole Nielsen’s farm, the event brought together farmers, researchers, industry partners, and Terravesta’s Danish team, creating a valuable opportunity to explore the practical and commercial potential of this resilient perennial crop.
The day began with a warm welcome from Andrzej Matyjewski, Terravesta Europe’s operations director. This was followed by Jacob Nielsen, Terravesta’s Danish representative, who then delivered the main presentation, offering an in-depth look at how elephant grass is opening new opportunities for Danish farmers, particularly those managing difficult or low-grade land. He highlighted the crop’s strong environmental credentials, minimal input requirements, and long-term financial stability through inflation-linked offtake contracts.
Attendees also heard from Kim Balle, a grower who planted elephant grass in 2025. He shared his hands-on experience working with Terravesta, discussing establishment, early crop performance, and his motivations for choosing a perennial biomass crop.
A valuable research perspective came from Jens Bonderup Kjeldsen, research coordinator in the Department of Agroecology at Aarhus University, who provided expert knowledge on crop performance, soil benefits, and its fit within Denmark’s green policy framework.
The event concluded with market-focused presentations from AJ Energi & Strø (AJE&S), who will use the first Danish elephant grass harvest from 2026 for high-quality, heat-treated, bacteria-free animal bedding. Their contribution highlighted the growing commercial demand for sustainable biomass and bio-based products.
Growing interest and active discussion
Throughout the day, there was strong interest from farmers exploring diversification options, reflected in the many questions, discussions, and group conversations around crop establishment, harvest logistics, and long-term profitability.
Attendees also visited nearby elephant grass fields, gaining a firsthand look at the crop’s growth habit and its suitability for lower-grade or flood-prone soils.
Demonstrations of planting and harvesting machinery gave further insight into practical management.
Special thanks
Terravesta extends sincere thanks to:
• Ole Nielsen, for generously hosting the event
• Kim Balle, for sharing his grower experience
• Jens Bonderup Kjeldsen (Aarhus University), for contributing research expertise
• AJE&S, for presenting the market perspective
• All 60 attendees, whose engagement made the day a success
A promising future for elephant grass in Denmark
With rising demand for sustainable biomass across Europe and rapidly developing markets for bedding, bioenergy, and bio-based materials, elephant grass is becoming an increasingly attractive crop for Danish farmers.
The open day showcased not only the agronomic and environmental strengths of elephant grass, but also the enthusiasm and collaboration driving the crop’s expansion across Denmark.
Due to unprecedented interest in this event, Terravesta has added a similar event on 28 January 2026. Farmers can register for this event at terravesta.com/events.
