In this conversation, Dan Kurzrock, co-founder and CEO of Upcycled Foods, discusses the significant waste generated at each stage of the food manufacturing process, and the opportunities for upcycling the coproduces and byproducts into valuable ingredients and products. He emphasizes the importance of utilizing the whole crop, the economic and environmental impacts of food waste, and the role of consumer demand in driving sustainable practices. Dan shares insights on successful upcycling initiatives and the challenges faced by companies in implementing these solutions, ultimately advocating for a shift towards a more efficient and responsible food system.

Takeaways:

• The food manufacturing process generates significant waste at every stage.
• Upcycling reduces food waste by capturing byproducts and converting them into valuable ingredients
• Consumer demand is shifting towards sustainability and waste reduction.
• Companies face challenges in recognizing and utilizing byproducts, largely due to complexity.
• The Food Recovery Hierarchy prioritizes feeding people first (see links below).
• Innovative solutions can unlock the value of overlooked materials.
• Collaboration across the value chain is essential for waste reduction.
• Regenerative agriculture complements upcycling efforts.
• Visibility and awareness are key to changing industry practices.
• A world of abundance is possible through better resource management.

Sound bites:

“We should be eating everything we grow.”

“Waste is a mindset, not a reality.”

“We’re not losing something, we’re co-creating multiple things.”

“Ingredients often go to the path of least resistance instead of the path of the highest value.“

“We need to improve how we value food.”

“We take the idea of like a spent grain and elevate it to a super grain, because once those sugars have been extracted, it’s all plant protein and dietary fiber, you know. It’s not just what’s left over, it’s actually arguably more desirable.”

“These are not new ideas. This is just putting it into practice maybe in a new context with a lot of passion and energy.”

“Hunger and food waste shouldn’t coexist. It’s a troubling dichotomy.”

Links:

Dan Kurzrock on LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielkurzrock/

Upcycled Foods Inc – https://upcycledfoods.com/

Upcycled Foods Inc on LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/upcycled-foods

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Food Recovery Hierarchy – https://19january2017snapshot.epa.gov/sustainable-management-food/food-recovery-hierarchy_.html

Nutrient Density Alliance – https://www.nutrientdensityalliance.org/

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Brands for a Better World Episode Archive – http://brandsforabetterworld.com/

Brands for a Better World on LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/brand-for-a-better-world/

Modern Species – https://modernspecies.com/

Modern Species on LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/modern-species/

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/gagemitchell/

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Print Magazine Design Podcasts – https://www.printmag.com/categories/printcast/

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Heritage Radio Network – https://heritageradionetwork.org/

Heritage Radio Network on LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/heritage-radio-network/posts/

Heritage Radio Network on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/HeritageRadioNetwork

Heritage Radio Network on X – https://x.com/Heritage_Radio

Heritage Radio Network on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/heritage_radio/

Heritage Radio Network on Youtube – https://www.youtube.com/@heritage_radio

Chapters:

03:00 Introduction to Upcycled Foods and Manufacturing Process

05:00 Understanding Food Manufacturing Basics

08:58 The Importance of Upcycling in Food Production

14:56 The Food Recovery Hierarchy and Its Implications

20:54 Exploring Co-Products and Their Value

28:45 Business Case for Utilizing Byproducts

33:39 Unlocking Value from Waste

41:21 Innovative Solutions for Supply Chain Challenges

50:28 The Broader Impact of Upcycling

57:16 Exploring New Opportunities in Upcycling

62:10 Advice and Vision for a Better World

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