Developing more sustainable and nutritious plant-based foods requires strong collaboration between research and industry. Within the EU Horizon Europe project Sustain-a-bite, Viking Malt contributes its expertise in barley, malting and germination to help support the development of future food solutions.

As an industrial partner in the project, Viking Malt supplies suitable barley raw materials to the consortium, enabling research partners to explore whole-grain-based alternatives to highly refined plant ingredients.

“Sustain-a-bite gives us the opportunity to demonstrate how barley can play a key role in future plant-based foods that are nutritious, affordable and sustainable.”

Barley and germination at the core of the project

Viking Malt’s contribution is closely linked to its long-standing knowledge of barley and malting processes. Through Sustain-a-bite, the company helps evaluate how germination and minimal processing technologies can improve the qualities of plant-based ingredients for new food applications.

Germination is considered an important natural processing method that can help enhance nutritional quality, functionality, flavour and texture while maintaining relatively low processing intensity. These characteristics align closely with the sustainability goals of the project.

By providing high-quality and traceable raw materials, Viking Malt supports reliable and scalable research across the consortium.

Bridging research and food production

Beyond raw-material supply, Viking Malt also contributes to sustainability and market-oriented activities within Sustain-a-bite. This includes participation in environmental assessments, multicriteria evaluations and work related to consumer perception and market introduction.

These activities help ensure that the solutions developed within the project are not only scientifically relevant, but also realistic from industrial, environmental and commercial perspectives.

Through its involvement across several work packages, Viking Malt helps connect scientific research with practical food production and future market applications.

“Whole grains and minimal processing approaches can help shape more sustainable food systems while supporting nutrition and functionality.”

Exploring the future potential of barley

Sustain-a-bite offers an opportunity to demonstrate how barley can play a larger role in future plant-based foods beyond its traditional use in brewing and distilling.

The project supports the development of food solutions that aim to be nutritious, affordable and sustainable, while making use of whole grains and minimal processing approaches.

For Viking Malt, participating in Sustain-a-bite reflects a commitment to innovation and to building more sustainable food systems for the future.

Together with the project partners, the company contributes to the development of new approaches that combine science, sustainability and practical food innovation across Europe.