Biotechnology is a tool with the potential to reduce the impact of human activities on our planet. Thanks to the development of new bio-based production platforms, it is possible to take a step towards more efficient use of waste streams in order to achieve industrial circularity.

The Horizon Europe project CHEERS is a new biorefinery concept. It takes underutilised or waste secondary streams (such as bagasse, wastewater, CO₂ and CH₄) from the brewery industry, processes them in biorefineries and converts them into innovative bio-based products. They produce bioproducts for industrial applications: insect protein, disinfectant, microbial protein, ectoine and caproic acid.

There are two dimensions to the project. The first is an insect platform. This involves feeding a mealworm beetle, Tenebrio molitor, on bagasse (the fibrous material left once the juice has been removed from sugarcane). These mealworms are very nutritious, and once they have grown they are used as a protein source in two types of protein drink.

The second is the microbial platform. This uses microbes to convert CO₂ (residue from the brewery industry) into an ingredient for animal feed and hygiene products, and biogas (another brewery industry residue) into an ingredient for cosmetics and pet food.

The project is coordinated by the brewing company Mahou San Miguel, together with 11 partners from five European countries.