As part of the challenge-led innovation program ‘PropaGATE,’ the Grower Group Alliance (GGA) and Beanstalk AgTech team visited two major Western Australian brewing sites on 27 February: Gage Roads Brewing in Palmyra and Little Creatures Brewing in Fremantle. The visit aimed to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges breweries face in managing and disposing of wastewater generated throughout the brewing process.
Doug Hamilton from GGA, alongside Beanstalk AgTech’s Jolien Paalman and Ming Fung Chua, met with Matthew Morisey, Operations Manager at Gage Roads, and Russell Gosling, Head Brewer at Little Creatures. These experts provided valuable insights into the brewing process, the nuances of each site’s operations, and the significant challenges associated with wastewater management.
The Western Australian brewing industry can produce between 575 to 1,150 megalitres of wastewater annually, with disposal costs running between $2 million and $12.5 million. The site visits offered a firsthand look at how much wastewater is produced, how it is currently managed, and the financial burden it places on businesses.
PropaGATE is an AgriTech innovation initiative supporting WA farmers and agrifood processors launched in December 2024 by Beanstalk in collaboration with the South-West WA Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub, which is led by GGA, and the Food Innovation Precinct of WA (FIPWA). The program identifies critical industry challenges – such as wastewater in beer brewing – and connects them with global technology solutions for trial and evaluation, helping commercially proven solutions enter and/or scale into the WA market.
The GGA and Beanstalk team will continue working with more breweries and innovators worldwide to introduce cutting-edge technologies that enhance sustainable water management. By addressing wastewater challenges, the program aims to reduce waste and maximise water reuse, which are crucial steps for drought resilience in Western Australia’s drying climate.
