ACTION BIOVA. Against waste, for sports

The fight against food waste meets the love for sports.

From the collaboration between Biova Project, La Orange, and Riso Gallo comes a unique project that combines social impact, good nutrition, and sustainability, fully aligned with ESG principles.

Action Biova is a gluten-free beer made by recovering broken red rice—grains that cannot be sold due to aesthetic reasons. Following a circular economy approach, this surplus rice replaces 30% of the barley malt, increasing the efficiency of raw materials.

The idea was born from the cross-collaboration of two startups with a major company, embodying pure Open Innovation.

The recovery and reuse process, as well as the beer’s style, were designed and executed by Biova Project, an innovative startup specializing in food products created through circular economy principles and upcycling philosophy. Among Biova Project’s products is the first range of craft beers against waste, made by recovering unsold and surplus ingredients with a circular economy approach.

La Orange is a startup specializing in craft beers designed for those who care about their lifestyle: low alcohol content, high levels of minerals, and easily absorbable carbohydrates to help regain energy quickly without feeling heavy. DeQou Action Beer is Italy’s first range of beers developed through university research to support post-exercise recovery and enable a rapid energy boost without causing a glycemic spike.

Riso Gallo is one of Italy’s largest food companies, long synonymous with high-quality rice and a strong commitment to environmental and agricultural sustainability. Among its sustainability initiatives, the company strives to improve resource efficiency and reduce waste across the supply chain through valuable partnerships with national startups, aiming to find new uses for rice by-products.

“For several years, we at Riso Gallo have been on a sustainability journey, and we strongly believe in the potential of our collaboration with Biova Project—an outstanding Italian company that has given new life to surplus red rice through an innovative and sustainable project, minimizing environmental impact and extending the product’s life cycle”

said Emanuele Preve, Managing Director of Riso Gallo.

This is how an Open Innovation project takes shape, resulting in a unique, unprecedented product. Action Biova is an ultra-light amber beer, 3.3% ABV, rich in minerals and highly digestible carbohydrates derived from rice. Action Biova is also gluten-free, meeting the strict dietary standards of athletes.