Bion Environmental Technologies, Inc., a developer of advanced livestock waste treatment technology that dramatically reduces environmental impacts and recovers valuable resources, announced a letter of intent with Ribbonwire Ranch to build a 15,000 head sustainable beef cattle feeding operation in Dalhart, Texas. The facility will include barn systems, anaerobic digesters, and Bion’s waste treatment technology.
Bion and Ribbonwire will work together to create a definitive Joint Venture this Fall, allowing plans to move forward to commence construction of the Dalhart sustainable beef facility during 2023. The LOI contains a provision to allow expansion of the project to four phases, representing 60,000 head capacity or annual production of 180,000 head. Bion expects formal agreements with foodservice and retail customers over the next few months.
The Dalhart facility will be developed to produce blockchain-verified sustainable beef, reduce the stress on cattle caused by extreme weather and temperatures, while remediating the environmental impacts associated with cattle Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs). Bion’s patented technology will refine the waste stream into valuable coproducts that include clean water, renewable natural gas (RNG), and organic fertilizer products. The revenues generated from these new product lines will transform a cattle feeder from a marginally profitable business into a lucrative one.
Chad Schoonover co-founder of Ribbonwire Ranch said “we are excited to be partnered with Bion for this initial system. This could change the industry. This new approach allows us to capture what has otherwise been lost, while still providing a humane environment that doesn’t pollute the air, water or land.” Doug Lathem, co-founder of Ribbonwire, said “I am proud that we are working on a better way to feed cattle, one that will allow our kids and grandchildren to live and work in this area for generations to come.”
Bill O’Neill, Bion’s CEO, expressed his appreciation to Ribbonwire for recognizing this opportunity and wanting to be part of it. “We are fortunate to be working with a forward-thinker like Ribbonwire Ranch. We realize that this announcement is just a first step in making sustainable beef a reality. However, it is an important step to giving the consumer the sustainable beef they want and helping cattle feeders and producers create more value for their cattle. And equally important is the fact we are keeping the waste stream from polluting the air, land, and water, and verifying those improvements in the process.”
Source: Bion
