The five grantees selected offer solutions spanning automated harvesting, on-farm cold storage, and new sales channels for surplus produce and byproducts.
Feeding New York State will conduct a statewide assessment of over 3,000 farms to identify untapped surplus produce in collaboration with Matriark Foods, and outline opportunities to convert it into shelf-stable, culturally relevant food for food-insecure communities. The resulting roadmap will be publicly shared to support broader efforts to reduce on-farm surplus.
Fieldwork Robotics is deploying autonomous harvesting robots—beginning with raspberries, one of the most labor-intensive crops—to reduce food loss caused by labor shortages and delayed harvests. With support from ReFED, this marks their first U.S. deployment and a key step toward scaling in the U.S. market.
Freshealth is transforming underused High Rise Broccoli stems into ready-to-eat products for K–12 schools, creating a new market for farmers while reducing on-farm waste and improving access to healthy food.
Nutri8 is developing a mobile, modular rapid freezing system that enables farms and processing sites to preserve surplus or imperfect produce directly on-site—reducing spoilage and expanding access to secondary markets.
Retaaza is a woman and minority-owned B Corp and social enterprise. They are building an intelligent cloud platform that connects farmers with institutional buyers, streamlining the sale of surplus produce and supporting the company’s expansion into new regional markets.
On-farm produce loss is a major contributor to food waste, with U.S. farms generating more than 17 million tons of surplus food in 2023 alone. This surplus—nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables—represents a missed opportunity to reach its original intended consumer, all while millions face hunger. ReFED’s Catalytic Grant Fund is seeking innovative technologies, solutions, and initiatives that can boost the harvest of this surplus, maximize its value, and establish new market opportunities while increasing profitability for farmers.
Join us in reducing on-farm food loss!
To learn more about this open call theme and the challenges that ReFED aims to solve through the Catalytic Grant Fund, please visit the FAQ section.
Proposals for this open call must demonstrate the following in their Letter of Intent to be considered for funding:
An ability to reduce food loss and/or increase the utilization of produce that is otherwise commonly left on farms, maximize its value, and get it to market.
High-potential for the proposed initiative or solution to be scaled or replicated
A clear explanation of how ReFED’s funding and non-financial support will unlock additional funding (e.g., matching funds) and/or impact that would not otherwise be possible for the proposed initiative or solution.
The applicant has the relevant skills, knowledge, resources and/or lived experience that will enable them to successfully execute the proposal.
The development of new and existing markets and sales channels with strong economic models for surplus produce like off-spec products and parts of produce (e.g. broccoli leaves, carrot tops).
Support of storage and processing infrastructure to support weak links in existing supply chains and markets
Expansion of traditionally rigid produce specifications through levers like policy.
Mechanization technologies that will reduce loss by supporting the harvest of delicate produce and correct sorting of products that meet respective SKU specifications.
In-field storage and cooling.
Technologies that manage biotic and abiotic stresses to reduce waste and improve quality (Please note that input products such as fertilizers and pesticides are ineligible)
Shelf-life extension solutions
Fertilizers and pesticides
Charitable gleaning efforts and other food donation programs that do not pay farmers for the surplus produce
Organics recycling initiatives such as composting and anaerobic digestion.
To learn more about this open call theme and the challenges that ReFED aims to solve through the Catalytic Grant Fund, please review the FAQ page.
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].
We are deeply grateful to our funder partners who make the Catalytic Grant Fund possible, sharing our mission and vision for a more sustainable, equitable, and inclusive food system.
Learn more about how you can be part of this initiative by contacting Sam Buck, ReFED's Director of Development & Strategic Impact at [email protected].
We often perceive wasted food as the cost of doing business in independent restaurants. But today, with supply chain disruptions, the growing cost of food, and staffing challenges, those costs are becoming increasingly burdensome, creating an opening to reframe food waste reduction as the critical opportunity it is – to drive operational efficiency, deliver unique customer experiences, improve profit margins, and/or create a competitive advantage.
We'll be sharing out regular updates on upcoming information sessions and open calls for grantees via email. To receive updates, please complete the form below. For media inquiries or general questions, please email us at [email protected]. Interested in contributing to the Catalytic Grant Fund? Please email Sam Buck at [email protected].
ReFED is a national nonprofit working to end food loss and waste across the food system by advancing data-driven solutions to the problem.