ReFED is a national nonprofit dedicated to ending food loss and waste across the U.S. food system through data-driven solutions and strategic capital. Founded in 2015 by a coalition of industry, government, and philanthropic leaders, ReFED produced the first national economic roadmap for reducing food waste, and its data and methodologies have since been adopted by organizations including the OECD, Walmart, and Johns Hopkins University.
Beyond research, ReFED works to close the funding gap that keeps promising food innovations from scaling. Its Catalytic Grant Fund provides early grants that de-risk new solutions—including the Upcycled Food Association—while its Food Waste Funder Circle connects investors with startups turning surplus and byproducts into new foods, ingredients, and technologies. Alongside partner Closed Loop Partners, ReFED helped launch a $100 million funding platform combining investment, grants, and innovation support, anchored by funders including Google.
Why It Matters: Reducing food waste is one of the most powerful, immediately available climate solutions we have, but many good ideas never reach the people who need them without patient capital to help them grow. ReFED turns promising food innovations into scalable, lasting change.
