At the Intellectual Property Law Firm of Renner Otto, the expression “a good idea can change the world” isn’t just a tagline, but a statement we see lived out by our clients every day. GTF Technologies has demonstrated this core belief with their latest innovation, the RENU system. Their groundbreaking food preservation and milling mechanism drastically reduces food waste and transforms operational costs into revenue streams making their food production more sustainable and efficient. 

Over one-third of all food produced (~2.5 billion tons) is lost or wasted during the food production stage. Not only is food wasted, but time is squandered, along with energy, labor, and other resources invested in its production.  

This food waste also ends up in landfills where it can generate methane, a greenhouse gas even more potent than carbon dioxide. Approximately 8% of all human-caused greenhouse gas emissions are attributed to wasted food. Regrettably, many food processors and manufacturers perceive this waste as merely an operational cost when, in reality, it presents an opportunity for revenue, while offering increasing sustainability. 

GTF’s RENU system employs a proprietary non-contact milling process that fits in-line with existing production systems to simultaneously dry and grind ingredients from raw materials into food powders such as flour. Because powdered food products are shelf-stable and retain their nutritional value, food manufacturers can utilize the RENU system to recycle food production by-products and convert them into valuable resources that address society’s food insecurity needs directly and immediately. The RENU process can handle both high and low moisture products and raw materials with varying densities (such as peels, pulps, seeds, mash, grains, etc.). 

Moreover, unlike traditional milling equipment on the market today, which necessitates a lengthy predrying process before grinding, the RENU process can mill products while drying them, making it more efficient and effective. This feature eliminates the need for expensive and wasteful predrying procedures, allowing GTF’s milling system to directly and immediately process a wide range of products without additional steps. 

The RENU system can recycle food production byproduct waste, including orange and lemon peels, carrot shavings, broccoli stems, and pineapple cores, as well as brewing spent grains, into nutritionally packed ingredients for use as direct food ingredients (such as flour) or incorporation into baked goods, pet foods, nutraceuticals, and sustainable packaging. 

Alternatively, GTF’s technology can enhance the harvest and processing time for fresh crops like grains and hops. Since these crops often require lengthy drying after harvest before milling, farmers typically incur expenses for expensive kilns to prepare their crops for market. However, the RENU system bypasses this inefficient drying process by drying crops as it mills them, reducing farm waste. 

And, that line about a good idea changing the world? GTF’s technology has the potential to cost-effectively stabilize some of society’s underutilized food. They see this as a step toward its larger mission of feeding some of the 800 million people who go hungry every day.  

Attorney Adam Claussen was able to assist GTF in guiding their Intellectual Property Plan to protect the RENU system and position their future sustainable innovation. it’s wholeheartedly supports this mission and eagerly anticipates a future where food waste is eliminated, and no person goes hungry. To learn more, please visit www.gtf-technologies.com.