Brewers’ Spent Grain: An Unprecedented Opportunity to Develop Sustainable Plant-Based Nutrition Ingredients Addressing Global Malnutrition Challenges
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.jafc.3c02489
Laura Nyhan, Aylin W. Sahin, Harold H. Schmitz, Justin B. Siegel, and Elke K. Arendt, Journal of Agricultural and Food , Chemistry 2023 71 (28), 10543-10564, DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.3c02489
There is an urgent requirement to minimize food waste and create more sustainable food systems that address global increases in malnutrition and hunger. The nutritional value of brewers’ spent grain (BSG) makes it attractive for upcycling into value-added ingredients rich in protein and fiber having a lower environmental impact than comparable plant-based ingredients. BSG is predictably available in large quantities globally and can therefore play a role in addressing hunger in the developing world via the fortification of humanitarian food aid products. Moreover, addition of BSG-derived ingredients can improve the nutritional profile of foods commonly consumed in more developed regions, which may aid in reducing the prevalence of dietary-related disease and mortality. Challenges facing the widespread utilization of upcycled BSG ingredients include regulatory status, variability of raw material composition, and consumer perception as low-value waste products; however, the rapidly growing upcycled food market suggests increasing consumer acceptability and opportunities for significant market growth via effective new product innovation and communication strategies.