A new company specializing in sustainable barley ingredients called EverGrain announced its launch today. Backed by Anheuser-Busch InBev, the company will source protein and fiber ingredients from upcycled barley through proprietary processes, to deliver products which are both sustainable and nutritious.
 
EverGrain will use grain saved from brewing, and through its innovative process, will transform circularly sourced barley into nutrient-rich ingredients that can be used in a variety of food and beverage products. The company has spent the past five years researching and developing these ingredients to be in a leading position in this product category.
 
EverPro, a barley-based fully-soluble protein ingredient, can be used for beverages, protein bars, and snacks. EverVita, a compound of proteins and fibers with minimal starch, can be used as a single solution to boost the nutrition and gut health benefits of baked goods, pasta, and snacks, without impacting taste and texture.
 
EverGrain ingredients are currently available in products such as Take Two, a plant-based barley milk line. The company also has product launches with partners planned to reach shelves in the U.S. and Europe in the first quarter of FY 2021.
 
“Our unique barley ingredients will transform palnt-based products, delivering better tasting and more nutritious options to consumers who seek a healthier and more sustainable future,” Greg Belt, founder and CEO of EverGrain, said. “EverGrain’s innovative and circular approach, which we’ve honed over the past five years, offers a scalable, local, and reliable solution for the global food industry to help address the world’s food security and sustainability challenges.”
 
Plant-based foods are one of the fastest growing categories in the global food industry, greatly outpacing more traditional categories, EverGrain said in its announcement. Citing the HealthFocus International 2019 Global Report, the company states that a quarter of global shoppers say plant-based foods and beverages have become more important in their diets and are willing to pay a premium for plant-based products. With ingredients made locally, and with the backing of the world’s largest brewing company, EverGrain seeks to supply a growing demand for ingredients that serve the purposes of plant-based nutrition with sustainable ends.
 
“AB InBev is proud to support such a remarkable, purpose driven venture with a mission to create incredible ingredients to nourish the world through the transformative power of circularity,” Tony Milikin, chief sustainability and procurement officer of AB InBev said. “EverGrain marks an important milestone in our ultimate goal of building a better world as we look to the next 100 years and beyond.”
 
“Plant-based proteins have been an important health trend for over a decade. But for many new consumers coming into these categories, their motivation is no longer just promoting their personal health and wellbeing, but more broadly their environmental concerns and commitment to sustainable practices and companies. EverGrain is an exciting and important step forward for the entire plant-based protein marketplace. As a ‘circular’ project, there’s no additional land or energy needed to grow EverGrain, and minimal water and energy are required to transform this nutritionally dense barley source into an exciting new plant protein,” Jeffrey Brams, GC and VP of research and development for Garden of Life, LLC, said.
 
Puratos, an ingredient supplier and formulator for baked goods companies, also will be utilizing EverGrain’s products.
 
“At Puratos, our ambition is to accelerate the transformation of our industry. EverGrain’s barley offers a unique plant-based protein and fiber option that doesn’t require additional land, saves water, and lowers a product’s overall carbon footprint. At Puratos we are working with EverGrain to develop the ingredient technology that will allow bakeries to make great tasting, nutritious, and sustainable breads featuring barley ingredients in line with consumer preferred texture and freshness expectations,” Puratos group products director Frederik Lievens, said.