CHOOSE YOUR COUNTRY Group Sustainable development Activities and products Why join us? Our news Candidate Your profile RAW MATERIAL Alfalfa Around 600 of Tereos’ cooperative growers cultivate alfalfa in France. The crop is primarily used for animal feed, a sector in which the Group has become a leading player. Key figures 4 alfalfa dehydration plants in France 600 Tereos cooperative growers cultivate 11,000 hectares of alfalfa in France Processing all the raw material Alfalfa – also called lucerne and known scientifically as medicago – is a leguminous plant. In Europe, production is concentrated in France, Spain and Italy. These three countries account for around 85% of production. The main forage plant used for cattle feed, alfalfa is an excellent source of protein and carotene. Dehydrating the plant enables alfalfa to conserve all the qualities of fresh fodder. Sown for two or three years in succession, it is cut and harvested three or four times a year. Alfalfa contributes to sustainable agriculture and biodiversity: it does not need nitrogen for growth. It captures nitrogen in the air and partly restores it in the soil that it leaves for future crops. It also hosts microorganisms and insects needed for neighbouring crops. It is worth noting that alfalfa is an essential plant for conversion to large organic farming, it allows a secure transition to organic farming and is an important factor of success. Industrial process Alfalfa is mown and chopped then transported to the industrial facility, where it is rapidly shredded in attrition mills. The alfalfa passes through a press and produces a fibrous residue and pressing juice containing 10% dry matter. Dehydrating the plant enables alfalfa to conserve all the qualities of fresh fodder. Animal feed Alfalfa can constitute between 10% and 30% of the feed of ruminants (cattle, sheep and goats). Alfalfa is efficient as animal feed: it has been the subject of a study carried out on an experimental farm run by AgroParisTech, which showed that dairy cows emit 10% less enteric methane when they are fed with alfalfa rather than grass. Plant proteins Alfalfa is used as a protein-rich natural raw material to make dietary supplements for humans. Known as leaf extract, it is a concentrate of nutrients (protein, vitamins, minerals) obtained from the juice of leaves such as alfalfa (one of only two sites in the world capable of producing it is a Tereos facility). Discover our featured raw materials Sugar beet Discover Wheat Discover Sugar cane Discover Your contacts Credits Legal notices Personal data Cookies Configures cookies management EN We use certain cookies or similar technologies that are strictly necessary for the proper functioning of the site, as well as to improve the quality of your experience on this site. By clicking "Allow", you allow these cookies, but you can change these preferences at any time in the Cookie Settings. To personalise your preferences or to refuse cookies, select "Personalise". Please note that blocking certain types of cookies could affect your use of the website and some of its features. To learn more about our cookie policy, or to change your cookie preferences, see our "Cookie Policy". Allow Disallow Personalise