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.

Omija, celebrated for its unique balance of five distinct flavors, has been a highly cherished product for centuries, with Mungyeong recognized as the primary producer. Mungyeong contributes approximately 45% of Korea’s total output. It is also home to various facilities related to omija production and distribution, including the Omija Theme Park and Mungyeong Brewery, which produces traditional omija-based makgeolli. Named for its unique blend of sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and spicy flavors, omija blooms with red and white flowers between May and June, bearing red berries that ripen by late September. The harvesting of omija continues through the end of October. It is renowned for its health benefits, which include aiding digestion, alleviating fatigue, preventing aging, and reducing the risk of diabetes and anemia. As a result, it has been widely used in health foods, beverages, and traditional herbal medicine for many years. JL Co., Ltd. is a company that specializes in producing wine and distilled spirits from locally grown omija, with a focus on both domestic and international markets. The company was founded by Dr. Lee Jong-ki, a master of Korean whiskey with over four decades of brewing experience. In 2008, Dr. Lee established JL Co., Ltd., an agricultural corporation that operates the Ominara winery, using Mungyeong’s omija as the primary ingredient. JL Co., Ltd. sources 100% of its omija from local farms, including its own. The company has increased its omija purchases on a consistent basis, from 5.2 tons in 2019 to 20.2 tons in 2022. Ominara’s wine range includes “Sparkling Wine Omiroje Kyul,” “Sparkling Wine Omiroje Yeon,” “Omiroje Premier,” and “Omiroje Together.” The company’s distilled spirits line includes Gowoon Dar Oak 52%, Gowoon Dar Baekja 52%, and Gowoon Dar 43 Oak. Omiroje Kyul, the world’s first omija sparkling wine, is produced using traditional methods and has an alcohol content of 12% with a medium-dry sweetness. During President Biden’s visit to Korea in 2022, Omiroje Kyul was selected as the toast wine for a banquet. In 2023, the Korean Night banquet at the Davos Forum in Switzerland chose Omiroje Yeon, produced using the Charmat method. The Omiroje Premier and Omiroje Together are still wines, each with an alcohol content of 12%, made through traditional fermentation and oak barrel aging. The Gowoon Dar series is premium spirits crafted with meticulous attention to detail over a five-year period. The product range includes the “Gowoon Dar Oak 52%,” which is distilled twice from omija wine using atmospheric stills and aged in European oak barrels. The company also offers the “Gowoon Dar Baekja 52%,” a premium option aged in traditional baekja (white porcelain) jars rather than oak barrels. In 2019, Ominara’s omija products generated sales of KRW 265 million in wine, KRW 140 million in sparkling wine, and KRW 182 million in distilled spirits. By 2022, these figures had surged to KRW 477 million in wine, KRW 981 million in sparkling wine, and KRW 770 million in distilled spirits, representing a remarkable 380% growth over four years. In 2023, Ominara achieved total sales of KRW 2.7 billion and expanded its exports to markets including the U.S., Singapore, China, and more.