In the quest for sustainable alternative proteins, Dutch research institute NIZO, in collaboration with ingredients firm Revyve, has created a mild extraction process for ingredients from brewer’s spent yeast, which is a by-product of beer brewing. The extraction process is conducted on a semi-industrial scale and is capable of producing hundreds of kilograms of ingredients per batch. The use of mild processing, without the need for heat treatments, is beneficial for the functionality of the product. Food safety was a paramount concern during the production, and it was addressed rigorously.
Brewer’s spent yeast is a potential source of alternative protein, rich in protein and fiber, which has previously gone to waste. The project coordinator, NIZO, believes that it has great potential owing to the large quantities produced. The production cost of brewer’s yeast is far lower than that of fresh yeast and hence offers a cost-effective feedstock. The protein has a clean taste profile that is well-accepted by consumers, owing to its use in beer, wine, and bread. Yeast extract and nutritional yeast are very commonly used in plant-based products.
The production process for alternative protein from brewer’s spent yeast involves, firstly, cleaning yeast and removing impurities such as beer, sugars, and plant material. Thereafter, a mechanical process is used to break the cells into small fragments. These fragments are then separated using simple separation processes into proteins and fibers with high functionality. The extracted alternative protein has a wide range of technical applications such as a binder in vegan patties, improving texture in vegan whole-cuts, egg replacements in vegan mayonnaise, and the replacement of additives (E-numbers) in fried products.
The extraction process has been successfully upscaled to semi-industrial levels and is expected to be commercially available by the end of 2023. This scalable production process has great potential to revolutionize the sustainable protein industry. The use of by-products from industries, which do not compete for resources but rather use resources effectively is advantageous. Furthermore, stakeholders can expect to see significant cost savings owing to the availability of cost-effective feedstock.