Closing the Loop: Transforming Food into Feed with Wastelink | Spill the C #09

Welcome to another episode of Spill the C!

This time, we’re talking food waste—not on your plate, but at scale. Krishnan from Wastelink joins us to unpack how they’re transforming pre-consumer food waste into high-quality animal feed, building a circular solution for one of India’s most overlooked sustainability challenges. We explore the systemic gaps in India’s food waste ecosystem, the role of circular infrastructure, and what it takes to rebuild value in what most would discard.

00:00 – Introduction01:50 – Krishnan's Journey to Founding Wastelink

08:27 – Understanding theWaste Management Industry in India14:20 – What really happens to Food Waste?

19:40 – Overview of the Feed Manufacturing Industry

22:58 – Converting Food Waste to Feed

26:20 – Sourcing and Logistics for Wastelink

30:20 – Reverse Logistics for Waste Management

32:30 – Leveraging Technology for Efficiency

34:35 – Understanding Customer Segments

38:41 – Challenges in Onboarding Customers45:06 – Economics for a Food Producer

52.10 – Navigating Regulations and Compliance

55:20 – Global Perspectives on Food Waste Management57:37 – Future Innovations and Growth Plans59:55 – Closing Thoughts

Krishnan Kasturirangan, Co-Founder and Managing Director at Wastelink

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/krishnan-kasturirangan/

WastelinkWebsite: https://wastelink.co/ LinkedIn: https://in.linkedin.com/showcase/wastelink-/

🎬Edited by: Purajit Sonowal

🌿Studio Host: The Studio by Copper+Cloves

The Studio offers a vibrant, multi-use space designed to promote wellness and community engagement — offering Yoga/Pilates and Muay Thai classes, a plant-based café, co-working space, and rental opportunities for anyone looking to host private events or simply wondering where to schedule their next client photoshoot.

Website: https://copperandcloves.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestudiobycopperandcloves/?hl=en

📌Relevant Links & Resources:

UNEP’s Food Waste Index Report (2024), a global overview on food loss and waste, with policy guidance and solutions for both developed and developing regions: https://wedocs.unep.org/handle/20.500.11822/45230

Times of Agriculture’s Article on Food Wastage in India: https://timesofagriculture.in/food-wastage-in-india-farm-to-bin/#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20UNEP's%20(United,contributors%20being%20India%20and%20China.&text=The%20FSSAI%20(Food%20Safety%20and,this%20staggering%20amount%20of%20wastage 

Feed Strategy’s Overview of India’s Rapidly Evolving Animal Feed Sector: https://www.feedstrategy.com/business-markets/feed-production-by-region/article/15659614/indian-animal-feed-sector-continues-active-development

Book Recommendations

The Waste Free World – Ron Gonen