<p>There’s no sugarcoating it, and it’s sure to make you feel salty: we waste tons and tons of food. Despite the enormous resources poured into its production, 30% to 40% of the food supply is estimated to be wasted. This is an incredibly damning statistic for all sorts of reasons, not least of all the hunger crisis plaguing the US.</p> <p>Upcycling is a concept that seeks to transform food that would otherwise be discarded and put it to use through creativity and culinary innovation. Below is a rundown of this movement and what makes action on food waste so pressing.</p> <h2>Upcycling food is all about efficiency and waste reduction</h2> <p>Upcycling involves making delicious dishes out of surplus food, edible food waste, and byproducts. The approach addresses environmental concerns over food waste and methane emissions while cutting costs. This isn’t about dumpster diving or using rotten ingredients; it’s a response to our extremely overproductive food system that leaves us with a mountain of waste.</p> <p>Businesses and start-ups have popped up with upcycling as their key selling point. These sustainably-minded companies produce everything from plant-based candy to carbon-neutral pasta. They make use of ingredients that are perfectly edible but are often rejected by restaurants and markets because of their shape or color, like wilted greens or ugly mushrooms.</p> <figure><img alt="Treasure trove of wasted food | Source: Foerster/Wikimedia" class="img-responsive img-fluid mx-auto d-block" src="https://cdn.storymd.com/optimized/LA1ZZ7PCQo/thumbnail.jpg" /> <figcaption>Dumpster Full of Wasted Food. <em>Source: Foerster/Wikimedia</em></figcaption> </figure> <h2>Food waste is a worldwide issue</h2> <p>According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (a UN body), around one-third of all food produced for human consumption is lost or wasted. This equates to a staggering 1.3 billion tons of food, valued at nearly $680 billion. </p> <p>Food waste contributes to environmental issues like greenhouse gas emissions, water scarcity, and biodiversity loss. The EPA estimated that in 2020, landfilled food waste accounted for 58% of total methane emissions from municipal landfills.</p> <h2>Versatility of upcycled food</h2> <p>An interesting angle with upcycled food is its versatility. Pretty much any ingredient, be it vegetable peels or stale bread, can be reformulated into something genuinely tasty with some skill in the kitchen.</p> <p>Some brands embracing upcycling include Barnana, a group that takes imperfect bananas and makes banana-based snacks out of them. There’s also Barvocado, who use upcycled avocado seeds to make energy bars.</p> <h2>Hunger in the U.S.</h2> <p>Hunger in the United States is a major issue for public health and wellbeing. </p> <ul> <li>44 million people in the US are food insecure, including around 1 in 5 kids</li> <li>49 million people turned to food banks for help in 2022</li> <li>Poverty, unemployment, and inequality are major factors in food insecurity, and the problem is even worse in rural communities</li> <li>Millions of college students have been reported as being food insecure in research surveys</li> </ul> <figure><img alt="US Food Insecurity | Source: GDS Infographics/Flickr" class="img-responsive img-fluid mx-auto d-block" src="https://cdn.storymd.com/optimized/Wdx66BXFeA/thumbnail.jpg" /> <figcaption>US Food Insecurity. <em>Source: GDS Infographics/Flickr</em></figcaption> </figure> <h3>Dangers of hunger on health</h3> <p>Without proper nutrition, a child’s immune system is compromised, meaning they’ll get sick more easily. Kids under 5 are particularly vulnerable, and wasting, stunting, and being underweight are possible outcomes. Hunger makes it extremely difficult for kids to grow, learn, and become functioning members of society.</p> <p>More generally, people who are food insecure are disproportionally represented in case numbers for diet-sensitive diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure. Food insecurity is also linked to many adverse effects on overall health.</p> <h2>How upcycled food can help to reduce hunger</h2> <h3>Increasing food availability </h3> <p>Upcycling food creates extra resources out of what we already have, eliminating additional strain on agriculture and supply chains. By transforming underutilized food into new products, the overall availability of food in the market is increased. This could put a dent in food shortages in areas affected by hunger.</p> <h3>Aiding nutrition</h3> <p>In general, upcycled food is geared toward being balanced by using ingredients that are rich in vital nutrients. This gives it an edge in addressing malnutrition, not to mention filling the gaps where cheap, unhealthy food fails. Upcycled food is a clever way to maximize your intake of vitamins, minerals, and protein.</p> <h3>Supporting food security </h3> <p>Diversifying the food supply through upcycling adds resilience to communities facing shortages and price fluctuations. It’s better value both financially and health-wise.</p> <h2>Household applications for upcycling</h2> <p>Although companies have jumped on the concept and are delivering their own offerings, the cost can be prohibitive for some. Here are some examples of how you can incorporate upcycling into your home cooking:</p> <h3>Vegetable scraps</h3> <p>Instead of throwing veggie scraps in the bin, you can use them to make zesty broths, sauces, and purees. A lot of the usually maligned elements of veggies like carrot tops, onion skins, and celery leaves and ends can infuse complexity and deep flavors into your dish when simmered and strained.</p> <h3>Overripe produce</h3> <p>Blackened bananas are unfairly villainized because of their unsightly appearance, but they make brilliant additions to smoothies and baked goods. The same goes for bruised apples, which can be cooked down into compotes, chutneys, or jam.</p> <h3>Stale bread</h3> <p>Surely, this one is a goner? Not so. Stale bread can be dried and ground into breadcrumbs or made into croutons for a salad. You can also soak it to make bread pudding or French toast.</p> <figure><img alt="Making Croutons | Source: Tomasz_Mikolajczyk/Pixabay" class="img-responsive img-fluid mx-auto d-block" src="https://cdn.storymd.com/optimized/OoYBBJgUMd/thumbnail.jpg" /> <figcaption>Stale Bread Can Be Made Into Croutons. <em>Source: Tomasz_Mikolajczyk/Pixabay</em></figcaption> </figure> <h3>Leftover veggies</h3> <p>Leftover cooked veg can be reinvented in today’s dish to make a delicious stir-fry. Simply sauté your leftover veg and throw in some garlic, ginger, soy sauce, and whatever protein floats your boat (perhaps tofu or meat). Serve over rice or noodles.</p> <h3>Smoothie with fruit pulp</h3> <p>Do you own a juicer? Don’t throw out that pulp; it can be used to make smoothies, adding fiber and texture.</p> <figure><img alt="Making Smoothies With Fruit Pulp | Source: Mike Jones/Pexels" class="img-responsive" src="https://cdn.storymd.com/optimized/Rda55M2IXd/thumbnail.jpg" /> <figcaption>Making Smoothies With Fruit Pulp. <em>Source: Mike Jones/Pexels</em></figcaption> </figure> <h3>Leftover meat</h3> <p>If you’re a carnivore, scraps like bones and skin can be put to use in soups, stews, and broths to amp up the flavor profile and add nutrients. Chicken bones can be used for chicken stock, and the same goes for beef. The fat and skin from roasted meats are handy for making a savory roux.</p> <h2>Bigger picture for tackling food waste</h2> <p>Upcycling is a step in the right direction and has both personal and societal benefits. It’s not a standalone solution to the food waste crisis, however, as experts say a mix of policies covering optimization of the food chain, improving food rescue and recycling, and collective action are needed to truly overhaul the inefficiencies in our system.</p> <h2>More on Reducing Food Waste</h2><ul><li><a href="https://soulivity.storymd.com/journal/jb8aq2li2j-food-loss-and-waste" target="_blank">Preventing Food Loss and Waste At Home</a></li><li><a href="https://soulivity.storymd.com/journal/yj59eg6fnw-reduce-reuse-recycle" target="_blank">Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: The Three R's of Waste Management</a></li><li><a href="https://soulivity.storymd.com/journal/6wxqo781zj-sustainable-lifestyle" target="_blank">A Guide to Sustainable Living</a></li></ul>