Stop Food Waste Day鈥擠ivert, Inc., a circular economy company on a mission to prevent food from being wasted, announced the groundbreaking of its Integrated Diversion & Energy Facility in Lexington, NC, addressing a critical need for infrastructure to combat the wasted food crisis in the southeast U.S.
鈥淚t is fitting that today鈥檚 groundbreaking falls on Stop Food Waste Day, as we continue to scale our infrastructure to advance a circular food system nationwide鈥攁nd now in North Carolina,鈥� said Ryan Begin, CEO and co-founder, Divert. 鈥淲e know that this community shares our vision for advancing sustainability and circularity, and we welcome the opportunity to bring significant social, environmental, and economic benefits to the region.鈥�
North Carolina generates more than 2.6 million tons of wasted food in a year. Yet nearly 1.5 million North Carolinians are food insecure. Divert is tackling this problem nationwide and now striving to bridge this gap in the southeast U.S.鈥攃onverting unsold food products into carbon-negative renewable energy, and soil amendment. 鈥淔ood waste is a daunting challenge, and Divert鈥檚 innovative new facility will drive down food waste, convert it to renewable energy and soil enhancements, and create jobs. That鈥檚 a win-win-win for North Carolina,鈥� said NCDEQ Secretary Reid Wilson.
With the development of its Integrated Diversion & Energy Facilities, Divert now provides an end-to-end solution that prevents wasted food, facilitates edible food recovery to feed people in need, and transforms unsold food products into beneficial products. In doing so, Divert is recouping the value in unsold food by producing renewable energy, preventing it from going to landfill and creating harmful methane emissions, while also returning the nutrients in food back to the earth to support further food growth鈥攁dvancing a circular food system.
鈥淭his groundbreaking marks the beginning of something truly meaningful,鈥� said Jason Brown, former National Football League lineman and founder of First Fruits Farm in Louisburg, North Carolina. 鈥淒ivert is creating a pathway for sustainable change that supports farmers and strengthens our fight against hunger in North Carolina. I鈥檓 honored to stand with them in this mission.鈥�
Nuveen Energy Infrastructure Credit, a part of the $1.3 trillion asset manager of TIAA, has invested more than $90 million to fund the development of the Lexington facility. 鈥淒ivert鈥檚 remarkable trajectory and strong operational track record exemplify the kind of impact-driven innovation that Nuveen Energy Infrastructure Credit is proud to support鈥攖ackling critical global issues like wasted food while advancing sustainable solutions,鈥� said Julie Findlay, Managing Director, Nuveen Energy Infrastructure Credit. 鈥淭he groundbreaking today marks another important milestone for Divert, and we look forward to supporting its continued growth as the company drives meaningful, scalable change for the industry.鈥�
The facility will employ around 60 individuals and have the capacity to process 100,000 tons of unsold food products a year from food retailers, warehouses, distribution centers, and manufacturing locations. 鈥淗arris Teeter is proud to support Divert and its transformative approach to preventing wasted food,鈥� said Danna Robinson, Director of Corporate Affairs & Customer Relations for Harris Teeter. 鈥淭hrough Divert鈥檚 innovative technology, Harris Teeter has removed more than 40 million pounds of food and packaging from the waste stream in the last year. This effort creates more sustainable practices in the food supply chain and allows Harris Teeter to live its purpose: Enriching Lives 鈥� one meal, one family, one associate and one community at a time.鈥�
鈥淲e are thrilled that Divert is bringing its innovative approach to clean energy to Lexington,鈥� said Jason Hayes, Mayor of Lexington. 鈥淒ivert鈥檚 investment in our community solidifies Lexington鈥檚 place as a prime location for sustainable, successful businesses, and we welcome the widespread positive economic impact through the creation of new job opportunities for our community.鈥�