Protein Fibres Poised to Boost the UK’s Peat-Free Transition
Shake Climate Change is thrilled to include Grouse Fibre, a Gloucestershire-based start-up, in its 5th Cohort of ventures working to make Agriculture part of the solution to climate change.
Grouse Fibre is preparing to scale its milk-to-fibre technology with support from SHAKE Climate Change, the innovation programme led by Rothamsted Research. The investment and mentoring are helping the company move from lab-scale production to kilo-scale outputs, enabling pilot and field trials with commercial partners.
The company’s process takes waste milk protein – a by-product from the dairy sector – and transforms it into a "protein yarn" that becomes a high-performing fibre. Naturally rich in nitrogen and with strong moisture-holding capacity, the fibres are designed to strengthen peat-free blends and deliver results closer to what growers expect from peat.
The approach tackles one of the biggest hurdles in horticulture today: reducing reliance on peat. More than 2.2 million m³ is still used annually in the UK and 44 million m³ across Europe, but its extraction releases greenhouse gases and damages fragile habitats. While alternatives such as bark and coir are available, they often lack nitrogen or dry out too quickly, leading to inconsistent yields and higher costs for growers.
Early trials with crops including radishes, cosmos and tomatoes have shown promising germination compared with peat-based media, and forestry and conservation groups are also testing the fibres to help seedlings withstand drought and limit moss growth.
Backed by SHAKE, Grouse Fibre is building technical capacity and preparing for wider validation. By transforming a waste stream into a valuable resource, the company aims to play a central role in the global shift to sustainable, peat-free horticulture.
A powerful example of — and exactly the kind of venture SHAKE Climate Change exists to help grow.
Grouse Fibre SHAKE Climate Change Portfolio Cohort 5 (https://www.shakeclimate.org/portfolio.php)
Read more about Grouse Fibre’s journey in an interview with Farming Future Food