BELGIUM – EverGrain, a newly launched startup backed by AB InBev, is on a mission to realize the untapped potential of barley, particularly the one that has been used to create beer.

According to a statement from AB InBev, the sustainable ingredient company will revolutionizing the use of spent barley to deliver highly nutritious, great tasting protein and fiber barley-based ingredients to the world.

The company, started by the brewer’s former head of sustainability Greg Belt, creates two unique ingredients from the waste, EverPro and EverVita.

Greg says that both EverPro and EverVita are high in protein, highly adaptable and different than anything else on the market.

EverPro™ is a fully soluble protein isolate, that is  currently being formulated in multiple plant-based protein products, including beverages, protein bars and snacks.

EverVita™, on the other hand, is comprised of barley fibers and proteins with minimal starch.

EverVita is currently being used as a single solution to boost the nutrition and gut health benefits of baked goods, pasta and snacks without impacting taste and texture.

The products will be a great way of making use of the spent barley. Each year, the global brewing industry uses 9 million metric tons of barley.

Of the 9 million, 1.4 million metric tons can be traced back to AB InBev which is the largest brewer in the world.

After that, the spent grains are discarded, used as animal feed, composted or put to another use.

“While they aren’t good for beer anymore, they contain a lot of nutrients. And as consumers are more interested in plant-based proteins, there is definitely room for new ingredients to enrich and enhance the space,” Greg said.

The use of barley to create high quality protein comes at an opportune time given the rising interest in plant-based  foods in the global food industries.

According to the HealthFocus International (HFI) 2019 Global Report, a quarter of global shoppers say plant-based foods and beverages have become more important in their diets and are willing pay a premium for plant-based products.

Backed by the world’s leading brewer, EverGrain will support the growing demand from its commercial customers by providing a scalable, consistent, and stable supply of its ingredients – reaching businesses across the globe, with ingredients made locally.

“AB InBev is proud to support such a remarkable, purpose driven venture with a mission to create incredible ingredients to nourish the world through the transformative power of circularity,” said Tony Milikin, Chief Sustainability and Procurement Officer, Anheuser-Busch InBev.

“EverGrain marks an important milestone in our ultimate goal of building a better world as we look to the next 100 years and beyond.”

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