11:00 – 11:50

Production of sustainable beer reusing spent grain

Spent grain: from waste to biofertiliser
Composting and vermicomposting are processes for transforming brewer’s spent grainmediated by microorganisms and earthworms, respectively, to obtain biofertilisers rich innutrients but characterised by a low density. Pelletisation allows for an increase in density while facilitating distribution in the field and improving the uniformity of application even in organic horticultural production.

Speaker:
Davide Assandri, STEMS CNR Torino

The use of biofertilizers from brewers' spent grain in horticulture
Spent grain is the most abundant by-product in breweries. Currently, the main method of recycling spent grain involves animal feed, thanks to the high content of fibre, non-degradable proteins and water-soluble vitamins.  However, composting, vermicomposting and biochar offer promising alternatives for the use of spent grain in organic lettuce production.  These substrates provide the plants with nutrients, which are especially important during the seedling transplantation phase, effectively contributing to the recovery of the spent grain in accordance with the principles of the circular economy.

Speaker:
Angela Bianco, University of Sassari