2023-11-11 19:21:47
The beer that is so enjoyed on the terraces is made up of four simple ingredients: water, yeast, barley and hops. But what is not simple is the production of hops, a crop that is very sensitive to the environment.. Climate change has been reducing the quantity and quality of hops planted for decades. “It is very special. It needs a lot of light in summer, temperate temperatures and a lot of water. As a result of drought and global warming, crops are becoming less productive. In Germany, up to 28% less was produced in 2022,” exemplifies the economist. Inés Sagrario, co-founder of the Madrid start-up Ekonoke and CEO of the company.
This project began in 2018 with the help of agronomist Ana Sáez and Sagrario herself, although hop cultivation was not initially on their radar. His original idea was to grow fine organic herbs and lettuce in the city to sell them in restaurants and for individuals.. “We realized that there were no consumers who demanded that and we had to change the orientation of what we were doing,” Sagrario concedes.
And to achieve the turn of the project, Researchers Antonio Rojas and Javier Ramiro, specialists in the development of seed and stem crops indoors, joined.optimizing the available space to the maximum and through hydroponic agriculture.
Fear of shortages
Hops are key to defining the flavor and bitterness of beer. Practically 80% of its cultivation is concentrated in Germany and the US, in areas that meet the ideal conditions for this plant. But the August harvests are getting worse and the big global brands fear that in the future there could be a shortage of this ingredient.
“We grow hops vertically, just as it is done outdoors, but in industrial warehouses and in an environment in which we can control the conditions in which it grows. The objective is to recreate the ideal environment for this crop and thus make crops more productive. It is also a good solution to maintain product quality if weather conditions continue to worsen,” explains the Ekonoke co-founder. Besides, The entire process is carried out without using pesticides, herbicides or fungicides, with renewable technology, using less water and acting as a carbon sink.he assures.
Great commercial interest
And unlike what happened with their first bet, the commercial interest in the development of this sustainable hop is very great. “The owners of Star Galicia “They have opted for us and we are in talks with the main European brewers”says Sagrario, who prefers to avoid mentioning some of the companies with which they negotiate.
In their first round of financing they obtained up to 400,000 euros, although in October 2022 they closed the largest round they have had so far, of 4.2 million. It was led by Cosecha de Galicia, the agricultural innovation center of the owners of Estrella Galicia (Hijos de Rivera). Leanox Impact Ventures, a German fund, and Alazady España, owned by businessman José María Castellano, also participated in the operation. In addition, the brewing giant AB InBEv, which produces 28% of the world’s beer, has incorporated Ekonoke into its global beer acceleration program. start-ups.
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Thanks to these funds, Ekonoke is currently immersed in the construction of a 1,000 square meter pilot plant in Chantada (Lugo), before scaling to a commercial level with a 10,000 square meter facility in early 2024 in the same region. After that, the goal will be international expansion and sales to major global brewers.
The hops grown until now in the firm’s research centers in Alcobendas and San Sebastián de los Reyes have been used by Hijos de Rivera to make the first beer made exclusively with indoor hops. “At the moment we are 11 people involved in the project. We are very excited and we do not set limits”concludes Sagrario.
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