“BrewSelBar is about looking at familiar processes in a different way. By bringing together expertise from across the value chain, we are exploring how brewing by-products can be used more effectively, not only in agriculture but also in the development of new food and beverage concepts.
What matters is that these approaches work in practice. Our focus is on developing solutions that are technically sound, applicable under real conditions, and relevant for both industry and farmers.”
— Assoc. Prof. María Jesús Sánchez Martín, Project Coordinator, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
BrewSelBar focuses on advancing the use of brewing side streams within agricultural and food systems, with an emphasis on practical, scalable applications.
The work brings together expertise from plant science, bioprocessing, agronomy and food innovation, combining laboratory research, field trials and product-oriented activities to ensure relevance beyond the research setting.
Led by the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), the consortium includes both academic and industry partners working to develop and evaluate selenium-enriched biostimulants derived from brewer’s spent grain, alongside their potential use in barley-based food and beverage products.
By connecting different stages of the value chain, the project supports closer integration between industrial processes, crop production and food development.
About BrewSelBar
BrewSelBar is built around a connected, step-by-step approach that links scientific development with practical application. Work progresses from material processing and characterisation through to agronomic testing and product-oriented assessment, ensuring that each stage informs the next.
Activities span laboratory studies, controlled experiments and open-field trials, allowing the project to evaluate performance under different conditions. This integrated approach is supported by collaboration between academic and industrial partners, enabling knowledge to move across disciplines and along the value chain.
Our Approach
BrewSelBar will deliver a set of validated methods, data and application pathways that support the use of brewing by-products in agriculture and food systems.
Expected outcomes include improved understanding of how selenium-enriched biostimulants interact with crops, evidence of their performance under real conditions, and insights into their effects on crop quality and downstream applications.
The project will also generate practical guidance, datasets and demonstrators that can be used by researchers, industry and other stakeholders.
Expected Outcomes
BrewSelBar contributes to a broader shift towards more resource-efficient and connected production systems. By linking industrial side streams with agricultural use and food applications, the project supports more effective use of existing resources and encourages new forms of collaboration across sectors.
Beyond the project itself, BrewSelBar will leave a legacy of knowledge, tools and networks that can support continued development and uptake. Its results are intended to inform future research, industrial practices and policy discussions related to sustainable agriculture, circular bioeconomy and food system innovation.