Upcycled Food: the Climate Solution Sitting in Your Trash with Emily Lafferty and Amanda Oenbring

What if the future of food isn’t about creating more, but wasting less? In this episode of The Drip, we sit down with Amanda Oenbring, CEO of the Upcycled Food Association, and Emily Lafferty, Director of Supply Chain at Seven Sundays, a breakfast brand rewriting the rules of what ends up on your plate.

Together, they’re part of a movement turning food system “waste” into something far more valuable: a solution. We go deep on the science, the systems, and the surprising innovations behind upcycled ingredients. Think of it as ingredient alchemy: transforming by-products into breakfast, and inefficiencies into impact.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• What counts as “upcycled”?
• The big problem with food waste – and the greatest opportunities for innovation
• Real-world examples: from by-products to breakfast
• The challenges of processing upcycled foods
• Practical ways to plug into the upcycled food revolution

Jump to:

(00:07) Upcycling 101: What it really means

(00:54) Meet Emily Lafferty and Amanda Oenbring

(03:42) What is upcycled food, exactly?

(05:09) Food waste: The hidden giant

(07:26) Upcycled ingredients in action

(09:10) Tech hurdles and how to solve them

(18:57) This episode’s song recommendation.

(19:34) This episode’s mantra.

Featured Artist and Song:

Pyaar by Troyboi

Links mentioned in this episode:

Amanda Oenbring on LinkedIn

Emily Lafferty on LinkedIn

Upcycled Food Association

Seven Sundays

The Highwomen by Crowded Table, music was chosen by Amanda

Sunday Vibes by Masego, music was chosen by Emily

Connect with the show

AQUALAB

Zachary Cartwright, PhD

Laura Lampa is a scientist turned communicator and the founder and CEO of LML StoryLab Consulting. She translates complex scientific concepts into compelling narratives that resonate with wider audiences. On this episode of The Drip, Laura outlines why some groundbreaking scientific innovations struggle to capture public attention and how the art of storytelling can be the key to bridging this critical gap.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• Key principles for translating science into stories.
• Using analogies to make science relatable.
• Strategies to improve communication in companies.
• Balancing accuracy and engagement in communication.
• Trends shaping the future of technical communication.

Jump to:

(00:53) Introduction to storytelling in science

(03:46) Key principles for effective communication

(07:22) Simplifying technical topics with real-world examples

(11:53) Improving internal communication in companies

(22:20) This episode’s song recommendation.

(23:12) This episode’s mantra.

00:00 "Communicating Breakthroughs: Science Storytelling"

05:20 From Jargon to Relatable Science

09:49 Effective Layered Communication Strategy

12:52 Navigating Uncertainty in Mergers

16:02 Effective Communication Drives Future Sales

17:17 Content Trends: Visuals and Transparency

20:59 Aqualab: Communicating Scientific Innovations

Featured Artist and Song:

Found Your Love by Griz

Links mentioned in this episode:

Laura Lampa on LinkedIn

LML StoryLab Consulting

"Just Can't Get Enough" by Depeche Mode, music was chosen by Laura Lampa

Connect with the show

AQUALAB

Zachary Cartwright, PhD

Ali Alwattari from Kraton Corporation has been working in product innovation for over 33 years, spanning industries from consumer goods to biotechnology and energy. His passion lies in integrating the human dimension and storytelling into scientific work, accelerating innovation and tackling challenges from the lab to the market. He joins The Drip to share his creative process and reflect on the unique products he's developed over his career.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• How phenomena like the surface tension of water can drive innovation across industries
• Balancing reasoning and logic with creativity, termed as "realistic imagination"
• Stories detailing the development of unique products like artificial spider silk and waterproof mascara
• How looking to nature and unrelated industries can inspire breakthroughs
• … and practical advice for those starting in product innovation

Jump to:

(00:53) Ali's journey in product innovation across diverse industries.

(03:46) The significance of the human dimension in scientific work.

(07:22) Realistic imagination's role in innovation.

(11:53) Ali's creative process and examples of innovative projects.

(25:47) The future of innovation in the food industry

(29:59) Resources Ali recommends

(36:44) This episode’s song recommendation.

(37:29) This episode’s mantra.

Featured Artist and Song:

Ease My Mindy by Chris Lake

Links mentioned in this episode:

Kraton Corporation

‘Disruptive Innovation' by Clayton Christensen

'Rules for Revolutionaries' by Guy Kawasaki

‘Entrepreneurs in High Technology' by Dr. Roberts

Viva La Vida by Coldplay, music was chosen by Ali Alwattari

Connect with the show

AQUALAB

Zachary Cartwright, PhD

00:00 Reusable Skills Drive Success

04:26 Empathy and Emotion in Innovation

08:46 Translating Concepts into Scientific Terms

11:40 Nature-Inspired Water-Repellent Textiles

15:52 Innovative Mascara Formulation Insights

18:57 Dimples Revolutionize Gel Adhesion

20:16 Shaving Gel Chemistry Evolution

23:17 Simplified Product Development Framework

27:00 Need-Driven Innovation in Food Industry

32:31 "Professionalizing Innovation and Mentorship"

35:46 "Product Innovation & Music Groove"

37:49 Strength Over Struggle