Waste is Just a Mindset with Dan Kurzrock of Upcycled Foods, Inc
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.
Chapters
00:00 - Introduction to Upcycled Foods and Manufacturing Process
02:00 - Understanding Food Manufacturing Basics
05:58 - The Importance of Upcycling in Food Production
11:56 - The Food Recovery Hierarchy and Its Implications
17:54 - Exploring Co-Products and Their Value
25:45 - Business Case for Utilizing Byproducts
30:39 - Unlocking Value from Waste
38:21 - Innovative Solutions for Supply Chain Challenges
47:28 - The Broader Impact of Upcycling
54:16 - Exploring New Opportunities in Upcycling
59:10 - Advice and Vision for a Better World
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."
