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Transformation

Platform

News

People & Partners

Contact

Service

Jobs & careers

FAQ

Privacy & Imprint

Home

Transformation

Platform

News

People & Partners

Contact

Service

Jobs & careers

FAQ

Privacy & Imprint

Fermentation tanks in a brewery

Transformation

More protein for more people. On less land.

Globally, demand is rising while land is shrinking and under pressure. Regionally, a raw material lies almost unused: brewers' spent grain from breweries.

01

Global

02

Regional

03

Solution

01

Global

More people, more prosperity, and less land

More people, more prosperity, and less land

By 2040, the world population will grow to around 9 billion people. As incomes rise, per capita protein demand rises too. Agricultural land, however, is not keeping pace: globally, it has even shrunk slightly since 2001.

By 2040, the world population will grow to around 9 billion people. As incomes rise, per capita protein demand rises too. Agricultural land, however, is not keeping pace: globally, it has even shrunk slightly since 2001.

9.0 billionPeople in 2040, up from 7.3 billion in 2017
+ ProteinPer capita demand rises with income
−2%Agricultural land worldwide 2001–2023

Sources: Gapminder based on PovcalNet, World Bank and IMF (2040 projection); FAO, Land statistics 2001–2023.

“Can we feed the world without destroying the planet?”

“Can we feed the world without destroying the planet?”

“Can we feed the world without destroying the planet?”

“Can we feed the world without destroying the planet?”

Tim Searchinger, World Resources Institute and Princeton University

Climate changeNovel entitiesOzone layerAerosolsOcean acidificationNitrogen & phosphorusFreshwaterLand useBiosphereSAFE BOUNDARY
exceededsafe

Agriculture pushes the boundaries, and suffers from it too

7 of 9 planetary boundaries have been crossed. Food production is one of the biggest drivers, especially for land use, freshwater, nitrogen and phosphorus, and biodiversity.

At the same time, climate change hits it with heat, drought and heavy rainfall. It has already significantly slowed agricultural productivity growth worldwide.

−21%

−21%

−21%

−21%

less agricultural productivity growth worldwide since 1961, due to human-caused climate change

less agricultural productivity growth worldwide since 1961, due to human-caused climate change

Sources: Planetary Health Check 2025, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (segment lengths schematic); Ortiz-Bobea et al. 2021, Nature Climate Change.

“Regional solutions for global problems.”

“Regional solutions for global problems.”

“Regional solutions for global problems.”

“Regional solutions for global problems.”

The approach of the EAT BEER Platform

02

Regional · Brewing industry

Spent grain: the brewery's largest side stream, and mostly undervalued

Spent grain: the brewery's largest side stream, and mostly undervalued

Breweries produce brewers' spent grain every day. Today it mainly goes to livestock feed, biogas plants or disposal. Yet it contains valuable protein, and the technology to turn it into food already exists.

Breweries produce brewers' spent grain every day. Today it mainly goes to livestock feed, biogas plants or disposal. Yet it contains valuable protein, and the technology to turn it into food already exists.

≈ 20 kg

≈ 20 kg

≈ 20 kg

≈ 20 kg

spent grain per hectoliter of beer

×

×

×

×

≈ 84 million hl

≈ 84 million hl

≈ 84 million hl

≈ 84 million hl

beer in Germany (2023)

=

=

=

=

≈ 1.7 million t

≈ 1.7 million t

≈ 1.7 million t

≈ 1.7 million t

spent grain per year in Germany

Where brewers' spent grain goestoday · tomorrow
Spent grainBreweryAnimal feedlargest share, low valueBiogasDisposalFoodnew · via EAT BEER modulesGuide values: around 20 kg spent grain per hl of beer; beer sales in Germany 2023 around 84 million hl (Destatis). Stream widths are schematic.
Example: StralsundSite 01
REGION · SHORT ROUTES

Brewers' spent grain from Störtebeker Braumanufaktur is turned into food. It is sold in the region: via the Störtebeker Braugasthäuser and Beckröge, with more than 800 hospitality venues.

Offtakers in the region (schematic)

03

Solution

From pilot to widespread rollout: regional instead of large-scale plants

From pilot to widespread rollout: regional instead of large-scale plants

Many bioprocesses work at pilot scale, but lack access to raw materials, engineering, capital and markets. The EAT BEER Platform closes this gap with many sites located directly at the producer instead of one large-scale plant.

Many bioprocesses work at pilot scale, but lack access to raw materials, engineering, capital and markets. The EAT BEER Platform closes this gap with many sites located directly at the producer instead of one large-scale plant.

The gap between pilot and industryLabPilotIndustry & scaleGAPEAT BEER Platform
Missing so farRaw materialEngineeringCapitalMarket
One large-scale plant or many sites
Long routes, full investment up front, a single risk
Short routes, investment follows proof, distributed risk

Spent grain is just the beginning

Many side streams, many processes, many products

Many side streams, many processes, many products

Many side streams, many processes, many products

Many side streams, many processes, many products

The platform is not tied to a single raw material. Any side stream for which a proven bioprocess exists can become a starting point for a wide range of products.

How the platform works

SIDE STREAMSPROCESSESPRODUCTSSpent grainYeastFermentation CO₂WheyPomaceFermentationExtrusionEnzyme technologySeparation & dryingFoodProtein ingredientsFunctional ingredientsAnimal feedBio-based materials

Sources: Gapminder based on PovcalNet, World Bank and IMF (2040 projection); FAO, Land statistics 2001–2023; Planetary Health Check 2025, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research; Ortiz-Bobea et al. 2021, Nature Climate Change; Destatis, beer sales 2023. Spent grain per hectoliter: guideline value.