SABER: Sustainable Alcohol By-product Enhancement for Regenerative soils – A global approach to waste valorisation in agriculture

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,...