Brewer's Spent Grain Market Report 2026

The brewer's spent grain market size has grown rapidly in recent years. It will grow from $1.84 billion in 2025 to $2.03 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.2%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to expansion of global brewing activities, increasing availability of spent grain byproducts, growing use of bsg in animal feed, development of grain drying technologies, rising interest in food waste reduction.

The brewer's spent grain market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $2.95 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.8%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing demand for sustainable food ingredients, rising adoption of upcycled food products, expansion of plant-based nutrition, growing investments in food circularity solutions, increasing innovation in fiber-rich food formulations. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing utilization of bsg in human food products, rising adoption of bsg-based functional ingredients, growing integration into circular brewing models, expansion of high-fiber nutrition applications, enhanced focus on shelf-stable bsg processing.

The rising consumption of beer is expected to drive the growth of the brewer’s spent grain market in the coming years. Beer is an alcoholic beverage produced through the fermentation of sugars derived primarily from grains such as barley, wheat, or corn. Beer consumption is increasing due to factors including cultural and social occasions, economic development, effective marketing and promotion, and evolving consumer drinking preferences. Increased beer production results in higher volumes of brewer’s spent grain (BSG), a byproduct generated during the brewing process. This byproduct can be reused in applications such as animal feed, biofuels, and food ingredients, helping to reduce waste while creating additional value for the brewing industry. For example, in December 2024, according to Kirin Holdings Company, a Japan-based beverage company, global beer consumption in 2023 rose by around 200,000 kiloliters, or 0.1%, compared to the previous year, reaching approximately 187.9 million kiloliters, with China maintaining its position as the world’s largest beer-consuming country for the 21st consecutive year. Therefore, increasing beer consumption is supporting the growth of the brewer’s spent grain market.

Companies involved in the brewer’s spent grain market are increasingly implementing innovative sustainability initiatives aimed at reducing waste, improving resource efficiency, and developing value-added products. Sustainability initiatives focus on minimizing environmental impact by creatively reusing or recycling brewing byproducts, thereby supporting sustainable operations and contributing to a circular economy. For instance, in May 2024, Heineken France, a France-based brewing company, introduced Project Circle to enhance circularity within its brewery operations and reduce carbon emissions. The initiative separates brewer’s spent grain into protein and fiber components, with proteins refined for potential food applications and fibers used to generate renewable energy. The pilot phase of the project targets a 50% reduction in scope 1 thermal energy emissions and aligns with Heineken’s goals of achieving net-zero scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030 and net-zero emissions across its entire value chain by 2040. By establishing a closed-loop system, Project Circle advances circular economy practices and supports the decarbonization of brewing operations.

In September 2024, Upgrain AG, a Switzerland-based food technology company, partnered with Brauerei Locher to establish Europe’s largest spent grain upcycling facility in Appenzell, Switzerland. Through this collaboration, the companies aim to convert brewer’s spent grain into high-value, food-grade protein, fiber, and flour-alternative ingredients, supporting waste reduction, circular resource utilization, and a more sustainable supply of food ingredients. Brauerei Locher AG is a Switzerland-based brewery specializing in beer production and provides the spent grain feedstock used in Upgrain’s upcycling process.

Major companies operating in the brewer's spent grain market are Heineken N.V., Carlsberg A/S, Boston Beer Company, Founders Brewing Co., Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., New Belgium Brewing Company, Bells Brewery, Yuengling & Son, Inc., Firestone Walker Brewing Company, Great Lakes Brewing Company, Lagunitas Brewing Company LLC, Boulevard Brewing Company, Allagash Brewing Company, Rogue Farms, Odell Brewing Company, Abita Brewing Company, Alaskan Brewing LLC, Summit Brewing Company, Leiber GmbH, Captain Lawrence Brewing Company, Eel River Brewing Company, Left Hand Brewing Company, Great Basin Brewing Company, Mikkeller.

Europe was the largest region in the brewer's spent grain market in 2025. The regions covered in the brewer's spent grain market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa. The countries covered in the brewer's spent grain market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Italy, Spain, Canada.

The brewer's spent grain market consists of sales of compost, biogas, bioplastics, biochar. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

This product will be delivered within 1-3 business days.