Food waste to feed: Food Recycle seeks licensees for global growth
It is looking to close the environmental loop, repurposing 100% of commercial food waste, and diverting it from landfill.
Its patented technology processes food waste from diverse sources, including restaurants, abattoirs, farms, and food processors, into feed for poultry, swine, and farmed fish production.
In 2022 there were 1.05bn tons of food waste generated, amounting to 132kg per capita and almost one-fifth of all food available to consumers, according to the UNEP. “Out of the total food wasted in 2022, 60% happened at the household level, with food services responsible for 28% and retail 12%.”
The Australian firm’s process is “unique” in that it treats each food waste stream individually, analyzing its nutritional and amino acid profiles before combining ingredients to create a balanced and complete feed. "By processing and measuring each ingredient separately, we can ensure optimal nutritional value in the final product," explains Norm Boyle, CEO of Food Recycle.
And this process overcomes the critical barrier of biosecurity.
“Material from individual food waste producers is collected and processed in our facility. Within an hour, 4.5 tons of food waste is dehydrated, and biosecurity ensured through a heat treatment process, which eliminates pathogens by maintaining the required time and temperature. This material is then transformed into a dry granulated powder that is shelf stable.
“Next, we use a feed formulation program to determine how much of each processed waste stream can be incorporated into specific feed formulations for pigs, poultry, or aquaculture species,” continues Boyle.
A single production facility can produce 85 tons of poultry feed per day, or 31,000 tons per year—enough to support 700,000-layer hens, he adds. At a minimum, one production facility is needed for every million people.
He notes that, over the past 20 years, numerous businesses have commercialized food recycling and composting, but, nevertheless, the majority of food waste is still sent to landfills. "The main barriers associated with converting food waste to animal feed are biosecurity and the potential contamination of food from overseas sources. Food Recycle has overcome this with our unique patented process which removes any biosecurity risks to ensure the quality and safety of our feed."
"Processes such as composting and anaerobic digestion or the use of black larvae fly only deliver partial benefits because they use food waste to create a byproduct whilst our process converts waste 2:1 into feed," says Boyle.
Trial results
The company's technology has already shown promising results in trials, reports the CEO.
Partnering with the CSIRO and the University of New England, it has completed successful feeding studies covering layer hens, prawns, barramundi, and Australian Jade Perch.
The barramundi trial showed that a 67% food waste inclusion diet improved fish weight gain by 35%.
Food Recycle operates a pilot facility located in Bega Valley in New South Wales for testing and calibration with Western Sydney University and it completed a three-year research contract with that institution as well, analyzing and data-basing 25 new food waste streams.
The company has also developed an engineered design for a standard 100-ton-per-day feed output production facility, and is now ready to scale its operations, starting in Australia and New Zealand.
A dual structure for global reach
Food Recycle operates under two entities. The first, Food Recycle Ltd (FR), was established seven years ago and has spearheaded the research and development of its proprietary technology. The second, Food Recycle International Limited (FRI), is focused on global expansion.
While FR holds the rights to the technology in Australia and New Zealand, FRI manages the international markets.
Crowdfunding
To further accelerate its commercial growth, Food Recycle has embarked on a AUS $3m capital raise via the Australian crowdfunding platform Swarmer. This campaign aims to boost public engagement and increase the company’s visibility.
"We're inviting the public to join us on this journey, raising awareness and support for our technology that could have a global impact," says Boyle.
Licensing deals
As Food Recycle expands, it is seeking technology and knowledge licensees to build production facilities in Australia and New Zealand, with similar plans for international markets. Licensees will manage production while Food Recycle will receive royalty payments based on the sale of feed.
The agreement will require the appointed licensee to have built and made operational 25x 100-ton production facilities within 15 years, with the first 10 of those 25 facilities built within 10 years. The Food Recycle model provides a turn-key production facility and includes operational staff training, food waste collection training and technology upgrades.
"We've already licensed our technology in two countries under confidentiality agreements and are actively pursuing discussions with potential partners in other regions, particularly in the Middle East, where the high cost of animal feed and the push for improved food security have driven strong interest," Boyle tells us.
The company is also in discussions with potential licensees in Asia, including Vietnam, and has identified Africa as a key market, where both poultry farming and aquaculture are critical to local economies. "The high cost of feed is a significant challenge in these regions, and our solution could be transformative," says the CEO.
Food Recycle has a dedicated team whose role is to travel globally, conducting waste resource assessments in any country the company engages with. “They produce a comprehensive food waste report, then collaborate closely with local partners to implement effective collection systems. This support is crucial, as many of the stakeholders we work with lack a clear understanding of food waste management, particularly when it comes to proper collection processes.”
Its ambition doesn't stop with commercial partners. Boyle has also been actively engaging with global institutions, including the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation, to explore large-scale solutions to tackle food waste. His discussions in the US with various stakeholders aim to position FoodRecycle at the forefront of this growing market.
US and EU face hurdles in converting food to feed
Dr Jerry Shurson, an animal science professor at the University of Minnesota, spoke to us in April this year. While Japan leads the way in turning food waste into animal feed, the US and EU face hurdles in adopting similar models, he maintained.
Japan's legislation from 2007 prioritizes food waste recycling into animal feed, helping livestock industries become more self-sufficient.
However, inconsistent regulations across US states, coupled with concerns about disease transmission, limit the upcycling of food waste, according to Shurson.
In the EU, strict laws restrict food waste usage due to past disease outbreaks. A study by Boumans et al noted that only an estimated 5% of the 100 million tons of food loss and waste generated in the EU is currently utilized in animal feed.
The US academic called for a re-evaluation of these regulations to balance feed safety with the need to reduce the environmental impact of food waste: “Let's reevaluate our approach, considering the latest scientific insights. While we may retain some existing regulations, it's essential to adopt a more comprehensive perspective. Driven by the pressing climate and environmental challenges we face; we need to be more discerning in determining which food waste streams are deemed acceptable from a feed safety standpoint. We should strive to maximize the utilization of safe and viable food waste resources that may currently be underutilized."
As part of an online conference led by Dr Shurson, experts discussed how upcycling food waste can enhance sustainability. One case study focused on culled citrus fruit being repurposed for dairy cattle feed in the US. This approach not only supported cow productivity but also reduced feed costs and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
