BrewPro

Project title: BrewPro: Bruggger used for human consumption and feed

Partners: The beer

Research Fund: Food Fund - Kelda

Initial year: 2023

Service Category:

Biotechnology

Contact

Hörður Guðmundsson

Project Manager

hordurg@matis.is

The goal of the project is to develop an industrial process for the production of food and feed from yeast that is created during beer making. There are currently no possible uses for this type of yeast - which is called "brugger" - and it therefore generally ends up as waste at breweries. The project is therefore part of creating utilization possibilities and value from waste products.

About 50% of the dry weight of yeast consists of protein, but the demand for protein for human and salmon farming is constantly increasing. The products of the process will be three: dried yeast that could be used to make feed for farmed fish; purified yeast protein that is produced during the fermentation of brewer's yeast and could be used for human consumption, for example for addition to drinks; and a flavoring substance that is created during the fermentation of brewer's yeast and could be used as a spice for a wide variety of foods.

The project is intended to provide all the information necessary to determine the suitability of brewer's yeast for use in food and feed – i.e. the project deals with the entire process from the processing of the brewer's yeast to the exploration of the utilization possibilities of the products created from it. The results of the project can therefore be used to obtain a detailed assessment of the feasibility of implementing the industrial process for the production of food and fodder from yeast.