Producing novel non-plant biomass feedstocks and bio-based products through upcycling and the cascading use of brewery side-streams.
Producing novel non-plant biomass feedstocks and bio-based products through upcycling and the cascading use of brewery side-streams.
What is CHEERS?
CHEERS is an EU-funded project led by Mahou San Miguel with a consortium of 11 partners from 5 countries.
The CHEERS project aims to revalorise under-utilised or waste by-streams from the brewing industry for subsequent conversion into five high value-added industrial bio-products through a biorefinery approach.
The initiative proposes to achieve a reduction in the resource use and environmental impact of the beer production chain and aims to cover wider impacts on biodiversity and agricultural land use.
What is CHEERS?
CHEERS is an EU-funded project led by Mahou San Miguel with a consortium of 11 partners from 5 countries.
The CHEERS project aims to revalorise under-utilised or waste by-streams from the brewing industry for subsequent conversion into five high value-added industrial bio-products through a biorefinery approach.
The initiative proposes to achieve a reduction in the resource use and environmental impact of the beer production chain and aims to cover wider impacts on biodiversity and agricultural land use.
CHEERS will develop sustainable transformation processes using innovative biological platforms inspired by nature, which will be validated on a demonstration scale at Mahou San Miguel’s brewery.
CHEERS will develop sustainable transformation processes using innovative biological platforms inspired by nature, which will be validated on a demonstration scale at Mahou San Miguel’s brewery.
The strategy
CHEERS offers a modular solution where bio-based industries can configure their optimal combination by selecting from 5 novel biotechnological routes that generate 5 bioproducts for industrial applications, with attractive market opportunities: insect protein, disinfectant, microbial protein, ectoine and caproic acid.
All CHEERS value chains are based on new bioprocesses and innovative biofermenters combined with sustainable transformation processes, which will be validated at a demonstration scale in an industrial brewery. Ultimately, each value chain will achieve a minimum 45% reduction of the carbon footprint.
The Strategy
CHEERS offers a modular solution where bio-based industries can configure their optimal combination by selecting from 5 novel biotechnological routes that generate 5 bioproducts for industrial applications, with attractive market opportunities: insect protein, disinfectant, microbial protein, ectoine and caproic acid.
All CHEERS value chains are based on new bioprocesses and innovative biofermenters combined with sustainable transformation processes, which will be validated at a demonstration scale in an industrial brewery. Ultimately, each value chain will achieve a minimum 45% reduction of the carbon footprint.
An integral solution for the valorisation of all by-products and side-streams via 2 novel bio-based production platforms (insect and microbial) and 5 bio-based products.
INSECT
Upgrading of bagasse into 200L insect protein drinks.
MICROBIAL
Conversion of CO2 and wastewater into 490 kg/y of caproic-rich fatty acids mixture for feed.
Conversion of CO2 into 50kg/y chlorine for sanitizing products.
Conversion of biogas into 20kg/y of ectoine for cosmetic products.
Conversion of biogas into 482 kg SCP/y for pet food production.
An integral solution for the valorisation of all by-products and side-streams via 2 novel bio-based production platforms (insect and microbial) and 5 bio-based products.
INSECT
Upgrading of bagasse into 13.5 ton/y of insect protein drinks.
MICROBIAL
Conversion of CO2 and wastewater into 700 kg/y caproic acid for feed.
Conversion of CO2 into 50kg/y chlorine for sanitizing products.
Conversion of biogas into 20kg/y of ectoine for cosmetic products.
Conversion of biogas into 482 kg SCP/y for pet food production.
The bioconversion and cascading of biomass from secondary streams offered by CHEERS is intended to be a starting point for other fermentation industries to improve feedstock efficiency, sustainability, and their overall competitiveness.
The bioconversion and cascading of biomass from secondary streams offered by CHEERS is intended to be a starting point for other fermentation industries to improve feedstock efficiency, sustainability, and their overall competitiveness.
Latest news
From Brewery Waste to Sustainable Resource: How the CHEERS Project Rethinks By-Products
Industrial by-products are often treated as waste, leading to an inefficient use of resources. The EU Green Deal aims to change this by ensuring that such materials are no longer simply disposed of, but [...]
CHEERS turns 3: Three years transforming brewery industry
As CHEERS marks its third anniversary (September 2022–August 2025), the Horizon Europe project led by Mahou San Miguel has moved from vision to demonstration: turning brewery side-streams into five market-ready bio-based products. [...]
Pioneering Sustainable Protein from Insects produced with Brewery By-Products
At Thunder Foods, innovation and sustainability go hand in hand. That’s why we’re proud to be a part of the groundbreaking CHEERS Project — an EU-supported initiative aimed at transforming brewery by-products into high-value, [...]
