Treasure8, a San Francisco-based food tech startup, has partnered with innovation consultancy PA Consulting to scale and deploy its food tech platform.
Founded in 2012, Treasure8 focuses on upcycling food waste streams, and works with large companies to reformulate and advance their products.
The firm worked with the USDA to develop the SAUNA dehydration and freeze drying system, which preserves more nutritional value for dried food products than conventional methods, and can be used to upcycle surplus food and waste.
Treasure8 works with its other partners, which include The University of California, Davis and the State of California Energy Commission, to create healthier, more affordable, and sustainable nutrition for the public.
Now, new partner PA Consulting will help quickly scale up and commercialize Treaure8’s dehydration technologies and operations, while facilitating access to a network of global consumer packaged goods (CPG) firms, food companies, and manufacturers.
“Our ultimate purpose is and always has been to Deploy Nutrition for Humanity, and so, we’re grateful to have partners that are going to be the perfect fit for us to make Nutritional Security happen in this time of crisis. If COVID-19 has shown us one thing, it is that we need to systemically rethink and rebuild a new food system,” said Timothy Childs, founder, and co-CEO of Treasure8.
Derk Hendriksen, co-CEO, added, “Any time we have an opportunity to expand our capabilities, we want to take advantage of it. And this is a huge one. PA is an established company with amazing diversity of talent, knowledge and networks, and it’s an honor to team up with them to make a difference.”
PA Consulting has a long track record of partnering with startups and manufacturers to accelerate new technologies to market. In the area of sustainability, the company works with startups, brands, and regulators to create new circular products and services and more sustainable organizations.
“It’s inspirational to find a like-minded, motivated and purpose-driven partner like Treasure8. We look forward to joining them in creating the rapid sustainable growth they require to have a positive impact on people and the planet,” Wil Schoenmakers, global head of consumer products & manufacturing at PA Consulting, said.
“The world’s food system needs to change. At PA, we are very aware of the urgent need to reduce food waste and increase nutritional security worldwide. We are proud to play our part – bringing ingenuity to life through exciting new collaborations and partnerships – we invite others to do the same.”
PA earlier this year partnered with Hydroxyl Technologies to develop decontamination technology Airora Professional.