Will Upcycling Become As Popular As Plant-Based Food?

Will Upcycling Become As Popular As Plant-Based Food?

Outcast Foods is one of several plant-based food companies committed to upcycling ingredients that ... [+] would otherwise go to waste. For decades world hunger was declining, but according to the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization, it's on the rise again. This is especially alarming given that one in ten people globally don't have access to enough food. But it's not just a problem in developing countries. In the United States, millions of people face consistent hunger. Food insecurity is systemic, and very complex. But with this caveat in mind, one part of the challenge is food waste. In the United States, food waste makes up around 30 to 40 percent of our food supply. One way organizations are trying to help reduce food waste is by upcycling food. This means using ingredients that otherwise would not have gone to human consumption. Some of this food is surplus, both on institutional and consumer levels, and some is atypical, otherwise known as "ugly" produce that doesn't meet grocery store standards. It can also come in the form of by-products that are made when producing other foods. Not only does upcycling help alleviate food insecurity“”approximately $1 trillion of food is lost