From the laboratories of the Institute of Biological Research (IIB, CONICET-UNMDP), researcher María Gabriela Guevara leads BrewSelBar, a multidisciplinary project that proposes an innovative solution for sustainable agriculture and the brewing indusattempt. The goal: to develop a seed bio-stimulant enriched with selenium, created from beer spent grain (BSG), one of the most abundant waste products in the sector.
European funding and international cooperation
Horizon 2024 supports the development of green technologies with productive impact.
Selected by the European Community within the Horizon 2024 program: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Research and Innovation Staff Exalter, the project will last five years.
Institutions from Argentina and Europe are participating, such as National University of Mar del Plata, the brewery Antares, the Autonomous University of Barcelona, the Technical University of Denmark, the Technical University of Berlin, and the companies Semillas Battle S.A. (Spain) and Redinn S.R.L. (Italy).
Beer spent grain: from industrial waste to strategic input
Utilization of byproducts to reduce emissions and generate added value
Barley spent grain, rich in fibers, is usually utilized as animal feed, substrate for bioethanol, or flour for baking. BrewSelBar proposes a new utilize: turning it into a plant bio-stimulant to improve barley’s tolerance to climatic stress, such as droughts and high temperatures.
This valorization prevents the waste from finishing up in landfills, where it emits greenhoutilize gases, and promotes a more resilient and circular agriculture.
Gabriela Guevara and Fernando Muñoz in the IIB laboratories.[/caption>
Biofortification with selenium: human health and brewing functionality
Enriched barley to produce non-alcoholic beers with immunological benefits
The bio-stimulant will allow obtaining selenium-fortified barley grains, an essential micronutrient for the immune system. According to Guevara, one in seven people worldwide is selenium deficient, and Argentina is no exception.
The treated barley will be utilized to create functional non-alcoholic beers that provide real nutritional benefits.
Applied basic science: from idea to final product
Research, formulation, and pilot production in Argentinian and European laboratories
The team will conduct tests in a laboratory and pilot plant, adjusting techniques for the extraction and formulation of the bio-stimulant.
Subsequently, selenium-treated barley will be planted, and European laboratories will utilize particle accelerators to measure its concentration. In the last year, the team will determine the beer variety that best suits the obtained grain, and production will launch at the Antares plant.
Collaborative networks and technology transfer
An articulation model between science, indusattempt, and sustainability
With over a decade of experience in plant biofortification, the group led by Guevara demonstrates that basic science can generate tangible products with economic and environmental impact.
“We want Argentine breweries to join this initiative and for the counattempt to position itself as a reference in innovative and sustainable products,” states the researcher.
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