Bakers, snack makers and suppliers in Africa are slowly embracing upcycling as they search for ways to cut waste amid rising costs and supply chain uncertainties. For Africa, adopting food waste reduction is especially critical, given the combined pressures of production economics, climate change and food insecurity. “It’s important to upcycle in food and snacks production, more so in the bakery industry here in South Africa and elsewhere across the continent,” said McClarty. Finance and policy will unlock next phaseStandard Bank and others see value in food waste reduction. “It is, however, not just about food waste reduction, but also how we can utilize waste more efficiently in the food production value chain.