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

乌鸦传媒淗aving grown up around vineyards in Germany, I乌鸦传媒檝e always felt a deep connection to wine and nature,乌鸦传媒� said Braun, a research assistant with the college. 乌鸦传媒淏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.乌鸦传媒�

Braun is contributing to a major research project aimed at finding sustainable solutions for beverage industry by-products 乌鸦传媒� 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.

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

The research is part of OC乌鸦传媒檚 broader commitment to advancing the circular economy 乌鸦传媒� helping industries turn waste into valuable new resources.

乌鸦传媒淭his is a good example of how applied research can serve communities across the province and beyond,乌鸦传媒� said Kerry Rempel, interim director of applied research at OC. 乌鸦传媒淏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.乌鸦传媒�

Leading the project is Dr. Kathryn Bockhold, professor in OC乌鸦传媒檚 biology department.

乌鸦传媒淭his initiative aims to identify large-scale opportunities for beverage by-product reuse 乌鸦传媒� creating the potential for a secondary revenue stream for producers,乌鸦传媒� 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.

乌鸦传媒淎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,乌鸦传媒� added Rempel. 乌鸦传媒淭hat乌鸦传媒檚 where it gets really exciting. There乌鸦传媒檚 so much untapped potential here to build resilience for producers and invest in sustainable solutions that can be replicated across the province.乌鸦传媒�

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