Dutch food-tech company MaGie Creations has announced the launch of what is claimed to be the world’s first emulsifier made from brewer’s grain, a major byproduct of the beer industry.
According to MaGie Creations, brewer’s grain accounts for up to 85% of brewing byproducts, and is typically used as animal feed or discarded. To address this, the company has developed a process that transforms the fibre- and protein-rich biomass into a proprietary food-grade emulsifier named PowerBond.
The clean-label ingredient is said to provide an alternative to synthetic and ultra-processed emulsifiers, meeting the growing demand for natural ingredients and sustainable sourcing.
“This innovation is more than just a new ingredient — it’s a glimpse of the future of food,” said Madeleine Gielens, founder of MaGie Creations. “We’re showing how the food system can be both circular and clean-label without compromising on functionality or flavour.”
“Comprehensive, systemic solutions”
PowerBond reportedly works in a variety of food applications, including baked goods and meat alternatives. MaGie Creations claims it is a viable and price-competitive replacement for several existing additives.
Elsewhere in the world, other companies have also used upcycled brewers’ grain to produce innovative products — for example, Switzerland’s Circular Food Solutions has developed meat alternatives using the ingredient, while Singapore’s Prefer ferments brewers’ grain with other upcycled ingredients to produce a bean-free coffee alternative.
“The future of food isn’t just about what we eat — it’s about how we make it,” said Ellen van der Starre, Product Development Lead at MaGie. “We need comprehensive, systemic solutions that begin with reimagining food production. By thoroughly studying brewer’s grain, we uncovered the inherent functional properties embedded within this valuable biomass — enabling us to create PowerBond, an emulsifier that requires minimal processing of the raw material only, whilst avoiding the creation of new residue streams.”
