Summary
Food loss and food waste are two of the most serious issues in our food system, yet they are largely invisible to consumers. In high-income countries, a large percentage of food is wasted at the retail and consumer levels (grocery stores and homes), and many businesses discard high volumes of food because it has lost its value to the intended consumers after a specific time, or it becomes a liability due to regulations. Meanwhile, all countries around the world experience some level of food insecurity and malnutrition, indicating a massive disconnect between the food industry and consumers at different income levels. In this fascinating webinar, we explore the problem of global food loss and food waste and the exciting potential of upcycling. We describe emerging companies transforming food byproducts and side streams like spent grain and starches into nutritious, high-value products, some of which contain high value protein. We also discuss solutions for incentivizing food companies to divert their food waste, how to communicate the business value of upcycling to food companies, and strategies to match them with suitable upcycling companies that can process specific side streams.
Moderators
Matt Tom, Co-founder, GFPBAP
Tawanda Muzhingi, Co-founder, GFPBAP
Panelists
Aviaja Riemann-Andersen, Founder & CEO, Agrain by Circular Food Technology
Sue Marshall, Founder, CEO, & President, NETZRO, SBC Byproduct Valorization
Jessica Regan, Co-Founder & CEO, FoodMesh
Vinodthan Nayagar, Executive VP, Where Food Comes From
Jan Broeze, Senior Scientist, Wageningen University & Research