Tequila production alone churns out over 600,000 tons of fibrous bagasse and more than 1.5 million liters of acidic vinasses every year—waste that typically rots in landfills or pollutes waterways. This project tackles a double problem: the alcohol industry faces tightening regulations on waste disposal, while agriculture struggles with degraded soils that lose fertility and require ever more synthetic fertilisers. Researchers from the UK, Mexico, New Zealand, and Spain will test whether byproducts like bagasse, brewers’ spent grain, and wine pomace can be turned into biochar or compost that restores soil health. They will also identify the practical barriers—from transport costs to farmer reluctance—that currently block adoption. If successful, the work could give farmers a low-cost alternative to chemical fertilisers, cut greenhouse gas emissions from decomposing waste, and create new revenue streams for distilleries and breweries. The team has already secured partnerships with major producers including BrewDog and the Mexican Tequila Industry Chamber, ensuring that any scalable solutions developed in the lab can be tested in real supply chains.
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The global alcohol industry generates vast amounts of organic waste, much of which is underutilised or disposed of in ways that contribute to environmental degradation. Tequila production alone results in over 600,000 tons of bagasse and more than 1.5 million liters of vinasses annually. Regulatory pressures are increasing, with stricter waste reduction targets and promoting sustainable resource management. At the same time, agriculture faces mounting challenges due to soil degradation and declining soil fertility. With a growing focus on sustainability, there is therefore an urgent need to repurpose alcohol industry byproducts to provide both economic and environmental benefits. Our project seeks to transform alcohol industry waste from a disposal burden into a valuable resource. Specifically, we aim to: Investigate the potential of organic soil amendments derived from alcohol production waste (eg. biochar, compost) Address knowledge gaps related to the impact of different waste types on soil health and their suitability for diverse climates and agricultural systems. Identify industry-specific barriers to adopting waste valorisation practices. Develop scalable, practical solutions for integrating these materials into sustainable agriculture. Our project will strengthen international cooperation in sustainable resource management, fostering a circular economy approach that transcends borders by bringing together experts from the United Kingdom, Mexico, New Zealand, and Spain including representatives from leading global alcohol industries. The UK has a strong foundation in soil science and sustainable agriculture, while our international partners bring expertise in alcohol production, waste management, and climate-specific agricultural practices. Through knowledge exchange, and co-produced experimental trials, we will establish a multidisciplinary research framework integrating waste characterisation, biochar and composting technologies, microbial ecology, life cycle analysis, and sustainable business models. We will conduct cross-regional assessments using experimentally derived data to optimise waste valorisation for different environmental conditions. To maximise the impact of our findings we have secured support from industry stakeholders—including tequila (Mexican Chamber of the Tequila Industry), beer (BrewDog), cider (Grupo Trabanco), and wine (Hawkes Bay) producers—to align research outcomes with industry needs and sustainability goals; facilitating knowledge transfer through workshops, joint publications, and industry engagement activities to strengthen long-term collaboration. By initiating this collaborative research, we aim to bridge the gap between waste generation and sustainable agricultural application to create lasting impact. Economically, industry will benefit from lower waste disposal costs and the opportunity to diversify their revenue streams through innovative valorisation pathways. Agricultural productivity stands to improve, with biochar and compost enriching soil health, increasing crop yields, and reducing dependence on synthetic fertilisers. Repurposing alcohol industry waste will also help mitigate greenhouse gas emissions that result from decomposition of waste materials while also curbing pollution caused by traditional waste disposal methods. Our research has the potential to drive industry-wide transformation by developing scalable models for waste valorisation that can inform regulatory policies and encourage sustainable practices on a broader scale. The alcohol industry is at a critical juncture where sustainable waste management must become a priority. Our international collaboration leverages cutting-edge research, industry partnerships, and regional expertise to turn waste into opportunity. By unlocking the full potential of waste valorisation, we aim to drive a paradigm shift toward a more sustainable, profitable, and environmentally conscious alcohol production sector.
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