Food manufacturing processes often leave a significant amount of byproducts. In Korea, approximately 70% of raw materials used in the food and beverage industry are discarded, contributing to significant environmental costs. RE:HARVEST, Korea's first food upcycling company, transforms these discarded byproducts into valuable food resources.

RE:HARVEST is the first food upcycling company in Korea and Asia certified by Upcycled Food Association (UFA). The UFA, the only global organization dedicated to food upcycling, awards its certification mark to products and ingredients that contain at least 10% upcycled content by weight. By purchasing UFA-certified products, consumers help mitigate the climate crisis and reduce food waste.
RE:HARVEST collects barley byproducts from beer brewing and the production of traditional Korean sweet rice drinks (sikhye) on the same day they are produced. These byproducts are then washed, dehydrated, dried and ground to produce RE:NERGY powder. Compared to wheat flour, RE:NERGY flour contains 30% fewer calories, 2.4 times more protein and an impressive 20 times more fiber. In addition, the production of 1 kg of RE:NERGY powder reduces 11 kg of carbon emissions and saves 3.7 tons of water.

This innovative approach rescues nutrient-rich byproducts that might otherwise be used only as compost or animal feed due to technological limitations in food processing. RE:HARVEST emphasizes the importance of the upcycling process to preserve the nutritional value and quality of the raw materials. Its HACCP certified facility incorporates advanced semiconductor technology to achieve these goals.
The process involves ultraviolet and far-infrared pre-treatment, sterilization with special cleaning solutions, and nutrient content monitoring during drying using feedback control systems. After cleaning and drying, the byproducts are finely ground and impurities are removed, completing the transformation into upcycled raw materials. This proprietary process has resulted in four patent applications and Green Technology certification.

RE:HARVEST produces a variety of "healthy pleasure" products using Re:NERGY powder, such as energy bars, granola and shakes. The company partners with well-known brands such as OB Beer (Re:nergy Bars and Crackers), Tous les Jours (Kind Bread), Bronx Pizza (pizza dough) and The Bread Blue (bakery products). Through these partnerships, the company has expanded its product line to include protein balls, crispy rolls, and traditional snacks such as Jondeugi.
To further diversify its byproduct sources, RE:HARVEST operates an inhouse research and development center. Current research is focused on upcycling tofu whey, soybean curds, vegetable waste, grain, and husks from the threshing process. The company also plans to expand into alternative dairy products. By developing new innovations, RE:HARVEST aims to unlock the full potential of food upcycling. Globally, RE:HARVEST is working with Indonesia's largest beer company and plans to expand into Vietnam, Canada and other markets. This demonstrates the scalability and impact of food upcycling as a sustainable business model.