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Dutch food-tech scale-up MaGie Creations has introduced what it claims is the world’s first emulsifier made from upcycled brewer’s grain.

The company is aiming to address the challenge of feeding a growing population more sustainably by upcycling a major byproduct of the beer industry, with no waste left behind. The solution is also clean label, supporting manufacturers wishing to transition away from ultra-processed foods as well as unlocking value from overlooked waste streams.

Brewer’s grain accounts for up to 85% of brewing byproducts and is typically either discarded or used as animal feed. However, it can offer a valuable source of fibre and protein for human consumption.

MaGie has developed a process to transform the underutilised material into a scalable, proprietary food-grade emulsifier, named PowerBond. It aims to provide an alternative to synthetic emulsifiers as consumers continue to demand more natural and sustainably sourced ingredients.

The ingredient solution works across a wide range of food applications, from baked goods to meat and plant-based meat alternatives.

With terms like ‘clean label,’ ‘plant-based’ and ‘upcycled’ becoming increasingly important to climate- and health-conscious consumers, MaGie said its solution can provide a viable and price-competetive replacement for existing additives that do not meet these requirements.

Ellen van der Starre, product development lead at MaGie, said: “We need comprehensive, systemic solutions that begin with reimagining food production. By thoroughly studying brewer’s grain, we uncovered the inherent functional properties embedded within this valuable biomass – enabling us to create PowerBond, an emulsifier that requires minimal processing of the raw material only, whilst avoiding the creation of new residue streams.”

Upcycling industry waste streams into valuable food ingredients has become a popular and promising approach for tackling sustainability challenges and helping to shift the food system toward a more circular model.

Also harnessing byproducts from the brewing industry is fellow Dutch start-up Revyve, which offers a texturizing ingredient made from upcucled brewers’ yeast. The company also provides a gluten-free variety, utilising baker’s yeast.