Toronto-based Terra Bioindustries has announced a new project with Saskatoon’s Great Western Brewing Company (GWBC) to convert brewers’ spent grain (BSG) into a range of food ingredients, backed by $1.1 million in funding. Protein Industries Canada is contributing $486,000 to the project, with the industry partners providing the remainder.
Terra uses a proprietary enzymatic process to fractionate BSG into its component proteins, fibres, sugars, and flavour compounds. The company’s ingredient portfolio includes TERRA Protina (a high-protein concentrate), TERRA Fibra (a dietary fibre), TERRA Choc (a cocoa extender), and TERRA Malt (a multifunctional barley syrup). This project centres specifically on TERRA Malt, which received regulatory clearance from Health Canada in early 2026 as a non-novel food ingredient.
What happens to spent grain
Brewers’ spent grain is the most voluminous byproduct of beer production. According to Terra co-founder Steve George, roughly 70% currently goes to animal feed, 20% to landfill, and around 9% to composting, with less than 1% finding its way into value-added food applications. At an estimated 40 million metric tons produced globally each year, the material represents a substantial underutilised resource.
Terra’s process separates these components individually rather than simply drying and grinding the grain whole, which allows each fraction to be used according to its nutritional or functional properties. “By separating proteins, fibres, sugars, and flavour compounds, we are able to use all of the BSG while concentrating the nutritional or functional qualities separately. The ingredients are more versatile, production is more efficient, and nothing is wasted,” said Rebecca Palmer, Terra’s marketing lead.
A financial case for circularity
For GWBC, the project also carries a financial dimension beyond ingredient innovation. “For Great Western Brewing Company, this project means thousands of dollars staying in our business, funds we can put back into our recent investment in innovation, strengthen our operations, and support good local jobs,” said CFO Brendan Halbgewachs.
The project is part of Protein Industries Canada’s Road to $25 Billion initiative, which targets growth of Canada’s plant-based food, feed, and ingredient sector.
“By transforming BSG into innovative, low-carbon ingredients, Terra and GWBC are helping strengthen our domestic supply chain, expand food production, and demonstrate what it means to Make It Here,” said Protein Industries Canada CEO Tyler Groeneveld.
