Buffalo Trace Distillery has entered an unprecedented partnership with biotechnology startup Meridian Biotech to transform distillery waste into alternative proteins, marking a significant shift in how the whiskey industry approaches sustainability. The $40 million (£31.5 million) facility in Franklin County, Kentucky, will be the first of its kind in the spirits industry.
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“By reimagining distillery stillage as a resource rather than a byproduct, we’re pioneering new pathways in biotechnology that have the potential to transform the spirits industry,” said Brandon Corace, President of Meridian Biotech.
The partnership emerged from a 2021 Distillers Grains Reverse Pitch Competition, where Meridian was selected from companies nationwide to present solutions for managing spent grain byproducts. The facility will create 35 high-tech jobs and position Franklin County as a biotech hub.
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Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley views the partnership as a natural evolution of the distilling craft. The stillage will be piped directly from Buffalo Trace to Meridian’s adjacent facility, creating an efficient closed-loop system that minimizes transportation and maximizes resource utilization.
This collaboration represents a broader trend in the spirits industry toward environmental responsibility. As bourbon production in Kentucky has doubled over the past decade, distilleries face mounting pressure to manage byproducts sustainably.
Governor Andy Beshear praised the initiative, noting it “opens exciting new pathways for sustainability within Kentucky’s iconic bourbon industry.” Construction on the facility is expected to begin later this year.
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The partnership could serve as a model for other distilleries seeking sustainable solutions for their production waste, potentially transforming how the entire whiskey industry operates.
