Agriculture is already well advanced in Denmark in using biomass for energy production – but the potential is far from fully realised. This was a key message when stakeholders gathered for a thematic workshop at Gråsten Landbrugsskole on 10 March, organised by HarvRESt’s Danish partners, Food & Bio Cluster Denmark and ConTerra.

The event brought together actors from across the agricultural and energy sectors to explore how farms can contribute more actively to the future energy system. Discussions focused on how digitalisation, improved planning, and cross-sector collaboration can help unlock new opportunities for renewable energy production in agriculture.

The day featured presentations on biogas, energy planning and biomass, followed by a visit to the school’s biogas plant and CO₂ capture facility. Participants were able to see first-hand how green energy production can be integrated directly into farm operations, demonstrating the practical potential of combining agriculture and energy systems.

“Energy security is a central part of our critical infrastructure. That is why it is important to make better use of the resources we already have available. Agriculture holds significant potential for producing green energy – including through biogas – but unlocking this potential requires collaboration as well as the right frameworks and decision-support tools,” said Bruno Sander Nielsen, Technical Director at Biogas Danmark.

A key element of HarvRESt is the development of a digital decision-support tool designed to support farmers, advisors and public authorities in planning renewable energy projects. The tool aims to make complex data more accessible and actionable, enabling more strategic decision-making.

“Many farmers and energy projects lack a clear overview of the available data and analyses when assessing the potential for biogas or other energy solutions. With the tools we are developing in HarvRESt, it becomes much easier to make informed decisions and work strategically with energy production in agriculture,” said Holger Nehmdahl, CEO of ConTerra.

By supporting the analysis of biomass potential, energy scenarios, and impacts on both climate and farm economics, the tool will help turn the sector’s untapped potential into practical, scalable solutions.

The workshop forms part of HarvRESt’s broader efforts to demonstrate how digital and energy innovations can enhance the competitiveness and sustainability of European agriculture.