From vineyards in Germany to research labs in B.C. 鈥� Okanagan College (OC) student Benedikt Braun is helping find sustainable solutions for the beverage industry.

鈥淗aving grown up around vineyards in Germany, I鈥檝e always felt a deep connection to wine and nature,鈥� said Braun, a research assistant with the college. 鈥淏eing able to support the industry in new and innovative ways is very exciting. We are working directly with industry partners on ways to support our community.鈥�

Braun is contributing to a major research project aimed at finding sustainable solutions for beverage industry by-products 鈥� the waste produced by wineries, breweries, and cideries. The project looks at ways to reduce, reuse, and repurpose this material, much of which ends up in landfills or wastewater systems.

鈥淲orking on this project allows me to merge my passion for winemaking with meaningful academic research,鈥� said Braun, who is enrolled in OC鈥檚 Bachelor of Business Administration program. 鈥淐ontributing to a study that supports sustainable practices in the beautiful Okanagan region feels both inspiring and fulfilling.鈥�

The research is part of OC鈥檚 broader commitment to advancing the circular economy 鈥� helping industries turn waste into valuable new resources.

鈥淭his is a good example of how applied research can serve communities across the province and beyond,鈥� said Kerry Rempel, interim director of applied research at OC. 鈥淏ritish Columbia has a successful fermented beverage industry, and these businesses produce a large volume of by-products. Solutions are needed not only to improve sustainability but also to create new value for an industry facing growing pressures from climate change.鈥�

Leading the project is Dr. Kathryn Bockhold, professor in OC鈥檚 biology department.

鈥淭his initiative aims to identify large-scale opportunities for beverage by-product reuse 鈥� creating the potential for a secondary revenue stream for producers,鈥� said Bockhold.

In its first phase, the research team is surveying beverage producers from the U.S. border to Revelstoke and the Similkameen Valley, tracking by-product volumes, disposal practices, and identifying high-density areas. The next phase will bring in partners like waste management companies and local governments to test reuse strategies.

鈥淎s we gather a solid sample of data from local producers, our team will be able to explore how this material could be used in industrial applications,鈥� added Rempel. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 where it gets really exciting. There鈥檚 so much untapped potential here to build resilience for producers and invest in sustainable solutions that can be replicated across the province.鈥�

For more information or to participate in the study, contact Dr. Kathryn Bockhold at kbockhold@okanagan.bc.ca.