Saccharomyces cerevisiae is common bakers` or brewers` yeast. It is a critical component of, for example, the beer brewing process. When it has been ``spent``, it becomes a commodity that can be purchased from suppliers who deal in industrial byproducts. There are breweries in Georgia, and all over the US. (Drink more beer, and you help create more demand. More demand produces more byproducts and should, theoretically, increase the supply and lower the price of the spent yeast, resulting in higher profits for BioAgra.)

BioAgra uses a process by which they are able to economically extract beta glucan from the cell wall of spent bakers` or brewers` yeast. It is not necessary, however that the yeast originate as a byproduct of some other industry. Saccharomyces cerevisiae can also be grown specifically for the beta glucan manufacturing process. There are a number of companies that produce yeast and sell it to the baking and brewing industries. I do not believe it is out of the question that BioAgra could at some time in the future consider ``growing our own``.

There are also some proprietary strains of yeast. Though it has never been stated to me, I would find it reasonable to think that once BioAgra has their R&D department up and running, there may be some consideration given to exploring the development of other strains of yeast.

But I digress....

Drink more beer, it will help increase profits :-^

With tongue in cheek,

-z