Consumer Food Waste
The Catalytic Grant Fund
Consumer Food Waste
Applications Closed – Selected Grantees Will Be Notified On March 31, 2023.
Thematic Focus Area
Consumer Food Waste
As a group, consumers are the largest generators of food waste, but it's not always easy for them to change wasteful behaviors. This first Open Call is focused on solutions and innovations in need of funding that can enable consumers to actively reduce their food waste at home — as well as in restaurant and foodservice settings — by making it obvious, affordable, and convenient. To bolster these solutions, the Catalytic Grant Fund seeks to support initiatives at a local, regional, and/or national level that include but aren’t limited to:
Targeted research or projects that identify actionable interventions for reducing consumer waste
Testing ways to reduce post-consumer plate waste – including managing portion sizes, the number one food waste opportunity as measured by GHG emissions avoidance and net financial benefit – in a way that makes the solution financially viable for businesses while successfully reducing wasted food
Developing technologies, prototyping concepts, or enhancing existing solutions that simplify food waste prevention and food donation for consumers, while being broadly available and affordable
Offering recycling solutions that make food waste diversion from landfills simple, convenient, and accessible for individuals in a way that supports proper management of the end product
The ultimate goal behind this thematic focus area is to get consumers to take action. To that end, broad consumer food waste education and awareness campaigns will not be considered for funding.
Meet the Current Independent Review Committee
Associate Professor of Professional Practice in Finance, The Milano School of Policy, Management, & Environment, The New School
US Regional Director, Village Capital
Founder & Innovation Strategist, Flavor Forward Strategy (Previously Yum! Brands)
Sustainable Food Systems Specialist, Natural Resources Defense Council
SVP Chef Innovator, Restaurant Associates
Co-Founder, Do Good Foods
Senior Consumer Scientist, Unilever
Co-Founder, Zero Foodprint and Mission Chinese Food
Senior program Marketing Manager, Climate Culture, RARE
Director of Procurement & Sustainability, CAVA
Professor, Dept. of Agricultural, Environmental & Developmental Economics, Ohio State University
Managing Partner, Fairbridge Park
Matt Wampler
CEO & Co-Founder, ClearCOGS
Nominate someone for the independent review committee
The Independent Review Committee is a highly valued group of leaders and experts coming from a variety of backgrounds; tailored for each open call, it serves as an integral part of the broader team managing the Catalytic Grant Fund by contributing to the overall grantee selection process. If you are interested in participating as an Independent Reviewer or know of someone that you’d like to nominate for the Committee, please contact Angel Veza at [email protected].
Questions about this Open Call? We’d love to hear from you.