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Upcycled Food 101

We waste more than 40% of food that we produce—squandering staggering natural resources and economic opportunity. Globally we are losing $940 billion from food loss and waste. 28% of land and 21% of fresh water goes to food that is wasted. Food waste accounts for 8% of all human-caused greenhouse gas emissions. Upcycled foods can help reduce the impacts of food waste while creating economic opportunity. Upcycling has been cited as the top solution for manufacturers in terms of both economic and environmental impact.

Meanwhile, shoppers increasingly seeking out upcycled foods and are willing to pay a premium. For the brands ready to seize the opportunity to drive this trend into the mainstream, success awaits.

Have Your Beer and Eat It Too

Consumer & Market Insights

    • The market for upcycled foods is estimated to be $46.7 billion, with an expected CAGR of 5%1
    • 99% of consumers see food waste as an issue, and 71% link food waste to the climate crisis.2
    • 97% percent of shoppers sampled indicated that they would view a supermarket carrying upcycled foods more positively or the same.3
    • 63% say that they would like to eat at a restaurant that actively prevents or reduces food waste.4

      1. Future Market Insights: “Products from Food Waste Market – Key Research Findings”
      2., 3. Mattson 2021 Study on Food Waste
      4.
      INNOVA Market Insights, 2021

Upcycled Nutrition

Upcycled ingredients like ReGrained SuperGrain can also differentiate your innovations with bolstered health and nutrition claims. Low-carb and highly versatile SuperGrain boasts 3.5x the fiber, 2x the protein of whole wheat flour. Our hallmark ingredient is packed with a range of micronutrients including amino acids, prebiotics, and polyphenols.

Food products enriched with upcycled grains have been found to significantly increase protein content. Of the fiber component, upcycled grains provides abundant arabinoxylan (AX), a prebiotic that has been shown to modulate glycemic responses, which helps metabolize cholesterol and produce vitamins. The cellulose component provides beta glucan, a nutrient that promotes heart health and lowers plasma cholesterol.

We believe in meeting consumers where they are – enhancing loved and adored foods with natural fiber and protein, providing accessibility to good nutrition. Meanwhile, shoppers increasingly seeking out upcycled foods and are willing to pay a premium. For the brands ready to seize the opportunity to drive this trend into the mainstream, success awaits.

Articles

Learn More About Egg-cellent Byproducts From Our Conversation on the Prepared Foods Podcast
We recently joined Bob Garrison, Chief Editor of Prepared Foods, alongside Nate Hedtke, Vice President of Innovation and Customer Engagement at…
UPCYCLED FOODS, INC. RECEIVES BEAM CIRCULAR RESEARCH GRANT TO ADVANCE ALMOND HULL INNOVATION   
Upcycled Foods, Inc., the leader in transforming food manufacturers’ byproducts into high-value ingredients, has been awarded a research grant from…
UPCYCLED FOODS, INC. DIVERSIFIES INGREDIENT PORTFOLIO WITH FIRST LINE OF UPCYCLED WHOLE RAISINS FOR COMMERCIAL MARKET
Bringing robust flavor and nutrition from California vineyards to new product innovation BERKELEY, CA – March 17, 2025 – Upcycled…
UPCYCLED FOODS, INC. AND MISFITS MARKET LAUNCH FIRST UPCYCLED BREADS FOR GROCER’S PRIVATE LABEL
Upcycled Foods, Inc. (UP, Inc.) is thrilled to announce the launch of the first upcycled breads co-developed with Misfits Market…
From Stakeholders to Shareholders: Equity Crowdfunding 101
By Sophia Busam What is Equity Crowdfunding? Equity crowdfunding offers an opportunity for early stage founders to raise capital online…
Check Us Out on Confessions of a Founder!
We recently joined Allie Burger on her podcast Confessions of a Founder. In this episode on Building a Circular Economy…

Explore our Podcast Features

We are passionate about the future of food. Check out our podcast features and invite us to talk, too!

Read More About the Upcycled Food Movement

Additional Resources

Open Question | Bioeconomy Session | Exploratorium

Upcycling for success beyond the brand

“ReGrained co-founder and chief grain officer and former Upcycled Food Association board officer Dan Kurzrock has worked multiple angles of product development. Notably, he lead the brand through a handful of CPG releases over the years. But that was proof of concept…” 

Upcycling and Eliminating Food Waste:
Closing the Loop

“How can we transform our industry to ensure that we can produce enough food for current and future generations with our available resources? On our current pathway, we would need the resources of 3 – 4 planets to accommodate the growing global population by 2050.  Over 30% of total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are attributable to the food system, and food waste is one of the greatest sources of inefficiency in this food system.”

How upcycling and regenerative agriculture support circular economy 

“The circular design of food makes it possible to transform our food system into one that is good for people, planet, and the prosperity of all stakeholders. During this on-demand webinar, our experts bring these principles alive and demonstrate their impact.”

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