BERKELEY, Calif. — September 23, 2025 — Upcycled Foods, Inc., the leader in transforming food manufacturers’ byproducts into high-value ingredients, has been awarded a research grant from BEAM Circular to pioneer new uses for almond hulls in partnership with the Almond Board of California. The 12-month project will accelerate almond ingredient innovation by developing and demonstrating proof-of-principle through market-ready applications. Designed to meet growing commercial demand for functional ingredients, these upcycled solutions unlock scalable value for the almond industry.
Almond hulls, a traditionally underutilized co-product of almond farming, are rich in bioactive compounds and fibers with promising applications in food innovation.1 By upcycling hulls into functional ingredients, Upcycled Foods, Inc. aims to enhance grower and handler profitability and long-term sustainability across California’s almond industry.
The project will focus on:
- Developing ingredient prototypes derived from almond hulls.
- The operational viability of processing almond hulls into commercial ingredients
- Testing market opportunities to evaluate demand and applications.
- Validating market channels to ensure long-term commercial viability.
“This grant enables us to apply our experience and focus on what upcycling does best, unlocking value that typically slips through the cracks of the food system,” said Dalton Allen, President and Co-Founder, Upcycled Foods, Inc. “Almond hull based ingredients meet real demand from food manufacturers and unlock profit potential for the growers and processors who power California’s almond industry.”
The project is part of a larger vision shared by Upcycled Foods, Inc., BEAM Circular, and the Almond Board of California to build a circular economy for agriculture that maximizes the harvest potential of the North San Joaquin Valley while creating environmental and economic benefits for the region.
“We are proud to support this innovative partnership between Upcycled Foods and the Almond Board of California,” said Karen Warner, CEO of BEAM Circular. “This project will advance exciting new opportunities to put everything that our local farmers produce to highest and best use.”
Upcycled Foods, Inc will lead a discussion on upcycled food ingredients at BEAM Circular’s November convening, The California Circular Bioeconomy Summit.
For more information, please visit UpcycledFoods.com and click on Partner Up!
1 Silva, V., Oliveira, I., Pereira, J. A., & Gonçalves, B. (2025). Almond by‑products: A comprehensive review of composition, bioactivities, and influencing factors. Foods, 14(1042). Available from MDPI.
About Upcycled Foods, Inc.
Upcycled Foods, Inc. (UP, Inc.) powers the B2B upcycled food economy with product development expertise, cutting-edge technology, and a growing portfolio of ingredient solutions, including ReGrained SuperGrain+®. Through its Upcycled Foods LabTM, UP, Inc partners with industry companies of all sizes to close the loop on undervalued supply chains, delivering products with exceptional taste, nutrition, and functionality that meet market and consumer demand. Learn more at UpcycledFoods.com
About BEAM Circular:
BEAM Circular is a nonprofit organization that serves as a hub for circular bioeconomy innovation, workforce development, and industry growth in California’s agricultural heartland. BEAM Circular works with over 100 partners across the North San Joaquin Valley and beyond to develop bio-based solutions that transform waste into valuable products while creating local economic opportunities and addressing environmental challenges. Learn more at beamcircular.org
