'RiHarvest' Selected by A-Ventures... Producing 'Beer Byproducts → Flour Substitute Raw Material'

'Rineoji Powder' as a Flour Substitute
Over 20 Times More Dietary Fiber and Twice the Protein Compared to Flour

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced on the 27th that Reharvest Co., Ltd. has been selected as the 46th company for the 'A-Ventures of the Month' program, which aims to discover and promote outstanding venture startups in the agri-food sector.

Reharvest is a startup that upcycles byproducts remaining from the production processes of foods such as beer and Sikhye to produce and sell flour substitute raw materials (Re:nerge powder) and foods made from these raw materials. The name Re:nerge powder is a compound of 'Re' and 'Energy,' meaning the reuse of energy.

To improve the efficiency of the byproduct raw material processing?from washing to dehydration, drying, grinding, and microbial management?Reharvest applied an automatic circulation drying system and moisture and microbial condition analysis using a hyperspectral camera. Compared to existing processes, drying time was shortened by about 12 times, and production volume increased more than ninefold, establishing a highly efficient byproduct raw material processing system.

The Re:nerge powder produced through this process has advantages such as dietary fiber content approximately 20 times higher and protein content more than twice that of conventional flour. It is being used as an ingredient in bakery and noodle products by numerous food companies and has also been developed and sold as various high-protein and high-dietary fiber products such as energy bars and granola.

Additionally, Reharvest has signed an agreement with OB Beer and is developing various foods using food byproducts like beer lees. This creates new added value by reducing waste disposal costs and minimizing environmental pollution. Compared to flour production, it reduces carbon emissions by 11 kg and water usage by 3.7 tons per kilogram, contributing to carbon footprint reduction.

Based on this technological capability, Reharvest was selected as a First Penguin-type startup by the Korea Credit Guarantee Fund. Companies selected as First Penguin-type startups receive guarantees of up to 3 billion KRW over three years. Reharvest has also attracted large-scale investments (5 billion KRW) from major corporations, recognizing its potential.

Alexander Myungjun Min, CEO of Reharvest, stated, "Currently, we utilize byproducts from beer and Sikhye, but we are also planning upcycling methods using various raw materials such as soybean pulp, red ginseng lees, and powdered rice." He added, "We aim to establish a new resource circulation structure in the food and beverage industry and become a leading company in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) management."

Min Alexander Myeongjun, CEO of Reharvest.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.