Companies interested in testing DDG in their production are invited to get in touch!
To read the official press release

The mobilization around microbrewery spent grains continues in Lanaudière. Results on the potential for horticultural and food processing applications were unveiled on September 13 at the Alchimiste microbrewery in Joliette, to companies and economic partners. The properties of this brewing residue are numerous and its applications multiple, as demonstrated by Bio.Enviro.In and CINTECH AGROALIMENTAIRE, the research partners for this first phase of the project. In the second phase, horticultural and agri-food companies wishing to test the use of spent grain in their production are invited to apply.
The aim of this next stage is to go one step further with interested companies and integrate DDGS into their recipes or potting soils, for example. Spent grain will be made available to companies in wet, dry or flour form, depending on the type of application. The project is steered by the Conseil de développement bioalimentaire de Lanaudière as part of its collaboration with the food symbiosis of the Synergie Lanaudière project led by Lanaudière Économique, in partnership with the Sociétés d'aide au développement de la collectivité (SADC) Achigan-Montcalm, D'Autray-Joliette and Matawinie, and now counts on the collaboration of the Zone Agtech. All the partners have joined forces to tackle this issue, which affects 18 microbreweries in the region and over 900 tonnes of spent grains to be recycled annually.



Agricultural applications and fertilizer values
The Centre d'innovation bioalimentaire, horticole et environnemental, Bio.environ.in was commissioned to evaluate the fertilizing values of spent grain on different types of crops. Spent grain was used in wet and composted form, and then introduced directly into the soil, or as an amendment to potting soil. Among other things, DDG has been shown to have a positive impact on the growth of certain vegetables, such as lettuce grown in greenhouses. Its high nitrogen concentration seems to be highly beneficial to certain crops, and can even replace the addition of fertilizer in some cases. Three companies also took part in the project, sharing their challenges and realities. Field trials were also carried out, to test the application with the companies' current equipment. The initial trials have proved very conclusive for certain crops, and encourage us to continue with a targeted, more in-depth trial phase.
Food integration and nutritional values
To support Lanaudière companies in integrating spent grain into their production, Cintech agroalimentaire was commissioned to identify spent grain processing methods, food and feed applications, and an analysis of the costs associated with equipment purchases and production costs. To date, spent grain is mainly used for animal feed, and generates no income for brewers. There is therefore an untapped potential for integration into human food, which could constitute an additional source of income for microbreweries. Spent grain is a superfood that can be integrated into a multitude of products: crackers, flour, desserts, and so on. A growing number of products on the market incorporate DDGS in proportions ranging from 5% to 30%, depending on the product, to replace wheat flour. Spelt is renowned for its high fiber and protein content. It has a light, roasted nutty taste that enhances the flavor of many culinary creations. A single serving of 6 tablespoons (1/3 cup) contains 5 grams of protein. Converting spent grain into flour would enable the product to be kept for longer, and would widen the range of possibilities for adding value to the product, either as animal feed, or for incorporation into certain products intended for human consumption.
Phase II of the project: Call to companies interested in testing spent grain
Food companies interested in testing DDG flour or dried DDG in their production, as well as horticultural companies interested in testing DDG in their crops, are invited to contact the Conseil de développement bioalimentaire de Lanaudière at info@cdbl.ca. Depending on the project, product samples may be made available, and coaching will be offered to support the development of circular economy co-products in the Lanaudière region, as well as market development. The Zone Agtech will collaborate in the second phase of the project by validating the market for spent grain flour.
The valorization of microbrewery spent grains seems very promising, with very interesting properties in terms of both food and fertilizer value. Our partners in the field will continue to support this second phase of the project, which will focus on companies interested in testing the product in their production facilities. The first-phase research projects were made possible by the SADC's Virage vert program, which contributes to improving the environmental and economic performance of Quebec businesses. We would also like to thank the participating companies, without whom the project would not have been possible: La microbrasserie Hopfenstark, Alchimiste microbrasserie, Pépinière aux arbres fruitiers inc, Liveroof and La Terre Ferme SENC. The results of the study are available at : https://cdbl.ca/synergie-lanaudiere/.
ABOUT THE GREEN SHIFT PROGRAM
This program is offered through Quebec's 57 SADCs and 10 CAEs, and aims to provide specialized external expertise to help companies wishing to improve their environmental and economic performance to go further in their process of adopting structuring eco-responsible practices and implementing clean technologies. This program will meet the needs of SMEs and communities for support and expertise in sustainable development through technical assistance. To find out more, click here: https://www.sadc-cae.ca/fr/programme-virage-vert/.
ABOUT SYNERGIE LANAUDIÈRE
About Synergie Lanaudière. Supported by Lanaudière Économique since 2009, Synergie Lanaudière offers support to companies and organizations wishing to make the shift to the circular economy, in particular to exchange resources among themselves, find outlets for their residual materials, source locally from recycled materials and develop new value-added products from by-products. The Conseil de développement bioalimentaire de Lanaudière is a collaborator for food symbiosis. To find out more, click here: https://cdbl.ca/synergie-lanaudiere/.
ABOUT THE AGTECH ZONE
The Zone Agtech is an innovation zone located on the territory of the Ville de Repentigny and the Ville de L'Assomption, dedicated to fostering innovations and companies that develop innovative technologies and solutions that will form the basis of tomorrow's agriculture: an agriculture that will produce more nutritious food while using less land, water, chemicals and energy, and that will use agri-food residues as inputs for the production of value-added bioproducts.To find out more : https://zoneagtech.ca/