As the demand for protein sources grows worldwide, both the aquaculture and pet food industries are seeking alternative, sustainable and affordable protein sources.
Headquartered in Omaha, NE, the Scoular Co. is offering a solution to that problem with Emerge, its new sustainable and innovative barley-based protein.
“We’ve branded this product as ‘Emerge’ to signify how distinct it is in the market,” says JC Olson, manager in charge of the project. “Right now, Scoular is the only company offering a barley-based protein for feed customers.”
Emerge is created through a patented production process that separates the protein found in whole barley kernels. The result is a meal-like product for pet food and aquaculture formulations.
Barley is sustainable because it contributes to water conservation systems and is grown in areas where it does not contribute to the deforestation of rainforest ecosystems. Emerge is produced from non-GMO barley, and the production process does not use harsh chemicals or solvents.
For pet food, Emerge offers multiple advantages. It’s palatable, with a neutral flavor and highly digestible. For the aquaculture market, Emerge meets the demand for sustainable fish feed.
“It’s highly digestible for fish, which results in less waste and helps to keep water systems cleaner compared to marine and animal proteins,” says Olson.
Montana Microbial Products (MMP), Melrose, MT, developed the patent-pending technology to create the product, and Scoular is the exclusive licensee of the technology.
The process uses fractionation to naturally concentrate the protein found in whole barley kernels. The result is a clean, environmentally friendly protein source that’s traceable and non-GMO.
Central to the Emerge project is Scoular’s new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Idaho, which is 15,000 square feet in size and constructed on four acres. It will process 1.8 million bushels of barley annually at capacity, with production expected to expand over the next several years.
“We expect to begin production in fall 2021,” says Olson. “Scoular selected Jerome due to its proximity to our barley farmers and end markets for the manufactured products.”
Idaho is the leading state for barley production in the U.S., and Scoular already operates several grain handling facilities there as well as its livestock ingredients facility in Jerome.
Olson sees growth of Emerge in both the aquaculture market and the pet food market, where sustainability will continue to be important.
“Scoular is proud to bring together sustainability, innovation and our strong relationships with Idaho barley growers to create Emerge,” he says. “It’s been a great collaboration and will have a positive impact on the feed ingredient supply chain. ■
