WA research to boost craft brewing sustainability

The WA Government has announced that a new research collaboration is working to transform beer by-products into food and fibre products, and aiming to provide new market opportunities for Western Australia’s craft brewing industry.

The Value Adding to Brewery Spent Grain project will explore how brewer’s spent grain (BSG) can be turned into ready-to-eat foods, food ingredients, health products and plant-based leather.

The WA Government says it is supporting this work through a $660,000 investment into the $1.24 million project, delivered in partnership with the End Food Waste Cooperative Research Centre.

Australian brewers produce more than 300,000 tonnes of protein-rich, high-fibre BSG annually, with around 20 kg of wet by-product created for every 100 litres of beer brewed, most of which is destined for low-cost animal feed or landfill.

Led by ChemCentre, project collaborators include Curtin University and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development. Work will be also undertaken with industry partners including WA Brewers Association, Spinifex Brewing Co, Nanollose and Maalinup Aboriginal Gallery to drive the innovations to market.

“Tapping into the potential of brewer’s spent grain for food and fibres opens up new commercial pathways for brewing, food and biomaterials sectors made here in WA,” said Science and Innovation Minister Stephen Dawson.

“Each year, Australia’s brewing industry generates enough spent grain to cover Kings Park: that’s a nutrient-rich by-product that too often goes to landfill,” said End Food Waste Cooperative Research Centre CEO Tristan Butt. “Repurposing it into food, nutraceuticals and sustainable materials cuts this waste and unlocks new value. It’s a positive step, taking us closer to our goal of halving food waste by 2030.”

For more information about the project, visit: www.chemcentre.wa.gov.au/value-adding-to-brewery-spent-grain.

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