Frequently Asked Questions

Why is this open call focused on food recycling and the beef and dairy sectors?

Methane is a potent but short-lived greenhouse gas, lasting only 12 years in the atmosphere, so cutting emissions today delivers measurable cooling within the next two decades, critical for limiting near-term warming. In the U.S., surplus food drives nearly 3 million metric tons of methane each year. That’s about 10% of national methane emissions, equal to the climate impact of 50 million cars over a 20-year period. Methane is released during (1) food production - predominantly of beef and dairy, since cows produce methane through enteric fermentation- and during (2) disposal, through anaerobic decomposition in landfills and wastewater treatment plants. This open call therefore, focuses on these high-impact areas.

Many experts believe that reducing consumer demand for beef and dairy is an effective way to reduce methane emissions. Why isn’t that a target solution area?

ReFED’s mission is to reduce food loss and waste across the food system. Accordingly, this open call focuses on cutting methane emissions by directly addressing food loss and waste - not indirectly by influencing consumer preferences. If you’re looking to influence consumer demand for beef and dairy, we encourage you to connect with organizations like Tilt Collective, which share this focus.

There is considerable momentum surrounding seaweed- and algae-based solutions as animal feed to mitigate methane emissions. Why is that considered ineligible?

There are certainly interesting solutions using algae-based feed additives. However, because ReFED’s mission is to reduce food loss and waste, all proposals must address food loss or waste in some way. Algae-based solutions have recently attracted significant funding, suggesting that catalytic support from this grant may be less critical and impactful.

Reducing herd size is mentioned in a couple of target solution areas. Herd size is influenced by many factors, not just mortality rates, operational efficiency, or food loss. Why is the Grant Fund still targeting these areas?

While many factors, such as policy, economic factors, and land availability, currently affect herd size, there is no definitive empirical evidence yet on whether interventions like reducing mortality or preventing food loss will influence herd size at the farm level over time. Because beef and dairy production involve long biological and operational cycles, catalytic funding is needed to test these interventions. The Grant Fund is well-positioned to support this work, as it is designed to be risk-tolerant and enable new approaches that could have a meaningful long-term impact.

Will the Grant Fund consider research proposals?

Yes. The Grant Fund will consider proposals for research projects as long as they align with one or both key opportunity areas and clearly articulate the potential impact in the letter of intent.

Are early-stage or untested solutions eligible?

Yes. The Fund encourages bold and innovative ideas, including early-stage solutions, as long as they demonstrate strong impact potential, clear demand, a clear pathway to scale or replication, and a capable team to carry them forward.

Can the funding be used for solution development and pilots?

Funding can support solution development, pilot projects, or scaling efforts, particularly if it directly contributes to the potential mitigation of methane emissions through reducing food loss and waste.

The Grant Fund is taking a very broad approach with this open call. How will you prioritize proposals?

We prioritize proposals based on three main criteria:

• Impact potential – This includes the solution’s potential to reduce methane emissions, the demand for the solution, and its ability to scale or be replicated.

• Catalytic potential – How the solution could attract additional investments or unlock impact that might not be possible without ReFED’s funding and support.

• Team strength – The expertise and capability of the team driving the initiative.

What is needed to demonstrate impact?

Applicants should provide clear, measurable evidence, such as pilot data, case studies, metrics from existing programs, or peer-reviewed research, that supports their approach.

I have other questions. Who should I reach out to with my inquiries?

For other questions, please reach out to Angel Veza at [email protected].

What is the average grant size?

The average grant size is $143,000, with past awards ranging from $50,000 to $250,000. We encourage applicants to request the full amount of funding they need and to include a clear explanation of how the funds will be used and the outcomes they will achieve.

Are organizations outside of the U.S. eligible for funding?

We will consider overseas companies that are currently operating in the U.S. or are seeking funding to expand to the U.S.