Manpas Oy awarded €72,000 government grant to develop hygienisation technology
Manpas Oy has been awarded a €72,000 government grant by the Economic Development Centre for South Ostrobothnia to develop hygienisation technology for manure containing bedding material and fibrous plant materials, and to prepare the technology for commercialisation. During the one-year project, Manpas will develop and test a hygienisation concept based on a closed, winter-proof process and assess the potential of the treated materials for use as bedding and in growing media.
The Economic Development Centre for South Ostrobothnia issued a positive funding decision on 29 May 2026 under the Growing Media and Bedding Production Development Programme (KasKu). The €72,000 grant awarded to Manpas Oy covers 60% of the project's €120,000 in approved total costs. The project runs from 1 March 2026 to 28 February 2027.
A tested and documented hygienisation concept
The main objective of the project is to develop and test a hygienisation concept based on a closed, winter-proof process, enabling manure containing bedding material and fibrous plant materials to be treated for further use.
The concept will be validated through practical trials involving the treatment of these materials. The aim is to improve their hygienic quality, consistency and suitability for further processing. The project will assess their potential for use as bedding and, following further development, as raw materials for growing media and soil improvement products.
The project responds to a growing need for new domestic materials that can complement or replace peat. At the same time, agriculture generates side streams such as manure containing bedding material and fibrous plant materials whose wider utilisation is currently limited by factors including hygiene and disease risks, variations in quality, and limited options for further processing.
Environmental impacts and market potential assessed alongside technology development
In addition to the practical development and testing of the technology, the project will generate information on the processing potential of manure containing bedding material and fibrous plant materials and assess their potential as alternatives to peat.
The project also includes a preliminary carbon footprint assessment, comparing the hygienisation solution with conventional composting. The aim is to generate comparable information on the environmental impacts of the solution.
Preparations for commercialisation will also include a market assessment and a preliminary review of intellectual property rights (IPR) and patenting. The approved project budget also includes resources for material testing, prototype and equipment development, and specialist services.
Towards new bedding and growing media solutions
The project aims to establish a documented and practically tested foundation for further development. At the same time, it will generate information on how manure containing bedding material and fibrous plant materials can be processed in a more controlled way and utilised as part of new circular material flows.
The one-year project will conclude on 28 February 2027. Updates on the project's progress, results and impacts will be communicated throughout the project period.
