Bion and Dakota Valley Growers Announce LOI for Sustainable Beef Project

Rhea-AI Summary

Bion Environmental Technologies, Inc. (OTC-PINK: BNET) and Dakota Valley Growers have entered into a letter of intent to create a sustainable beef cattle feeding operation in Bathgate, North Dakota, with a capacity of 15,000 head. The initiative aims to produce about 42,500 head of premium beef annually. The facility will utilize indoor barns to enhance cattle protein gain, coupled with anaerobic digesters to recover 84,000 MMBTU of renewable natural gas, equivalent to 643,000 gallons of diesel. Bion's advanced Gen3Tech will stabilize manure, upcycling it into low carbon nitrogen fertilizer, yielding 4,000 tons annually for agricultural use. The collaboration is backed by USDA’s Process-Verified-Program, ensuring sustainable practices. This project is expected to boost local corn demand and create jobs, supporting North Dakota's agricultural economy.

Positive

• Strategic partnership with Dakota Valley Growers to develop a 15,000-head sustainable beef cattle operation.
• Annual production of approximately 42,500 head of premium sustainable beef cattle.
• Indoor barns designed to improve cattle health and productivity.
• Recovery of 84,000 MMBTU of renewable natural gas, replacing 643,000 gallons of diesel.
• Projected annual production of 4,000 tons of low carbon nitrogen fertilizer to support local agriculture.

Negative

• None.

NEW YORK, April 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Bion Environmental Technologies, Inc. (OTC QB: BNET), a leader in advanced livestock waste treatment technology and premium sustainable beef, and Dakota Valley Growers, a cattle feeder near Bathgate, North Dakota, announced a letter of intent to develop a 15,000-head sustainable beef cattle feeding operation. Annual production from the facility is expected to be approximately 42,500 head of premium sustainable beef cattle.

The Dakota Valley Growers (DVG) project will have indoor barns to ensure the cattle are adding protein instead of burning calories to stay warm or fight through mud. The barns will have slatted floors with continuous manure removal and processing. Anaerobic digesters will recover nearly 84,000 MMBTU of RNG, enough to replace 643,000 gallons of diesel with a low-carbon alternative transportation fuel.

Bion's Gen3Tech system will capture and stabilize the volatile ammonia nitrogen in the manure stream, where it will be upcycled to a low carbon 'Climate Smart' pure nitrogen fertilizer product that can be precision applied when and where needed. The DVG cattle will produce approximately 4,000 tons of sustainably produced nitrogen fertilizer annually, enough to fertilize over 11,000 acres of North Dakota corn. The system will recover other fertilizer products, some organic, as well as nine million gallons of clean water that can be used for irrigation or watering the herd with minimal additional treatment.

RNG, nutrient, and water recovery will be transparent, third-party verified, and supported by blockchain. That data, coupled with cattle production history, will underpin a sustainable brand certified by the USDA's Process-Verified-Program (PVP). Sustainability will be measured by improvements in resource efficiencies, animal health and welfare, and reduced impacts to air, water, and soil, and will be communicated to the consumer at the point of sale. Tyson Foods recently said, "consumers would be willing to pay at least 24 percent more for environmentally friendly, sustainable options at retail."

Russell Edgar, founder of Dakota Valley Growers, said, "Bion can help us produce a better, more sustainable product and improve our bottom line at the same time. We are eager to get started. We have an opportunity to feed cattle right here in North Dakota, instead of sending more than 900,000 feeder calves south every year. That will increase local demand for corn and other feeds, services, and jobs. We all win. That's good business for Dakota Valley Growers and good business for North Dakota and our corn farmers and cow-calf producers."

Ed Schafer, a member of Bion's Board and former US Secretary of Agriculture and North Dakota Governor, said, "North Dakota has a long and rich farming and ranching history. It may have made sense in the past to ship both our corn and calves south for finishing – no longer. We look forward to working with the Edgars and the North Dakota Livestock Alliance, Beef Commission, and Stockmen's Association, and other stakeholders to develop projects to supply the most Climate-Smart – and Water-Smart – beef cattle in the world, from right here in North Dakota."

About Dakota Valley Growers: DVG is a 6^th generation family owned and operated farming and cattle feeding operation located in the Red River Valley in northeast North Dakota, near Bathgate. The farm was established in 1879; the Edgar family now farms 4,200 acres to produce corn, alfalfa, grass hay, beans, and barley. They have produced and fed cattle for 20 years. For more, see DVG's website at https://dakotavalleygrowers.com.

About Bion: Bion's patented 3^rd generation technology (Gen3Tech) dramatically reduces the environmental impacts of large-scale livestock production, increases resource efficiencies, and delivers a verified sustainable product. The platform prevents pollution of air, water, and soil, while recovering low-carbon Climate Smart and organic fertilizer products and renewable energy. Bion is focused on developing clean state-of-the-art cattle feeding operations to produce premium beef with a sustainable brand certified by the USDA. For more, see Bion's website at https://bionenviro.com.  

This material includes forward-looking statements based on management's current reasonable business expectations. In this document, the words 'will', 'look forward (to)', and similar expressions identify certain forward-looking statements. These statements are made in reliance on the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act, Section 27A of the Securities act of 1933, as amended. There are numerous risks and uncertainties that could result in actual results differing materially from expected outcomes.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bion-and-dakota-valley-growers-announce-loi-for-sustainable-beef-project-301805089.html

SOURCE Bion Environmental Technologies, Inc.

FAQ

What is the partnership between Bion and Dakota Valley Growers?

Bion and Dakota Valley Growers have announced a letter of intent to develop a sustainable beef cattle feeding operation in North Dakota.

How many cattle will the new facility produce annually?

The facility is expected to produce approximately 42,500 head of premium sustainable beef cattle each year.

What technology will Bion use for manure treatment?

Bion will employ its Gen3Tech system to stabilize manure and upcycle it into low carbon nitrogen fertilizer.

How does the new operation benefit North Dakota's economy?

The project aims to increase local demand for corn and other feeds, creating jobs and supporting local farmers.

What are the sustainability measures in the Bion and Dakota Valley Growers project?

The project includes transparent third-party verified sustainability practices, with support from USDA's Process-Verified-Program.