UFF Upcycled Food Symposium III - Day 2

Tomomi Maki, Collaborative researcher, Kagawa University, Japan

Lightning Talk: Factors influencing Willingness to Pay for Upcycled Food: Insights from Japan 

Tomomi Maki is a collaborative researcher at Kagawa University's Graduate School of Management. Her research interests lie in behavioral science, particularly in understanding the factors that shape human decision-making and explain why people do—or do not—engage in certain behaviors. In this presentation, she examines Japanese consumer attitudes toward upcycled food, focusing on the drivers and barriers that influence willingness to pay. She received her Master of Business Administration from Kagawa University in 2026 and her Bachelor's degree in Economics from Kagawa University in 2024.

Nadeesha Samarathunga, PhD Student, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, Japan

Lightning Talk: What Does an “Upcycled” Claim Actually Tell Consumers? Interpreting Sustainability-Signal Scope and Credibility in Denmark

Nadeesha Samarathunga is a first-year PhD student at Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University in Japan. Her research interests lie in marketing and consumer behavior, particularly sustainable food marketing and consumer responses to emerging food innovations. Her doctoral research focuses on upcycled food, examining how consumers interpret the provenance, claim scope, and credibility of sustainability signals communicated around these products in the Danish market.

Emine Gizem Acar, Research Assistant, Istanbul Technical University, Turkey

Lightning Talk: Upcycled Plant-Based Proteins for Vegan Cake Formulations

E. Gizem Acar received her BSc and MSc. degrees in Food Engineering from Istanbul Technical University. She is currently pursuing her PhD in the same department, where she also works as a Research Assistant. Her research focuses on the extraction of bioactive compounds from food waste and by-products, and their potential application as upcycled ingredients.

Pauline Kerr, PhD Researcher, Ulster University Business School, Belfast

Lightning Talk: Making Sense of Upcycled Food Products: Consumer Interpretations, Habits and Engagement with Sustainable Foods

Pauline Kerr is a third-year PhD Researcher in the Ulster University Business School, Belfast. Her research focuses on consumer engagement with upcycled food products. Her PhD adopts a qualitative research approach, drawing on Social Practice Theory to explore how consumers understand, engage with and incorporate upcycled food products into their everyday lives.

Joy Chidinma Nnadiegbulam, PhD Student, University College Dublin, Ireland

Lightning Talk: Reducing food waste, one bite at a time...but did anyone notice? Irish consumers' evaluation of upcycled foods with and without packaging

Joy Nnadiegbulam is a second-year PhD student at University College Dublin, School of Agriculture and Food Science, where she is researching the co-creation of new upcycled foods with Irish consumers under the supervision of Dr Simona Grasso. Her work explores how involving consumers throughout the product development process, from ideation to final concepts, can foster innovation while reducing food waste. She is particularly interested in how consumer engagement influences consumer acceptance of upcycled foods. Outside of her research, Joy enjoys cooking native delicacies and watching movies.

Dr. Andrew Tait, Ph.D., Founder Tait Labs, Affiliate Associate Professor, Concordia University, Canada

Lightning Talk: Canadian Upcycling Regulatory Updates 

Dr. Andrew Tait, Ph.D. in Chemistry (University of British Columbia) and Affiliate Associate Professor at Concordia University, is an entrepreneur and researcher bridging traditional medicine, modern science, and sustainable innovation. As founder of Tait Laboratories Inc., he pioneered the upcycling of citrus peels into MS+ Mandarin Skin Plus®, a natural digestive aid that has reached thousands of people across North America. His team’s 2017 studies revealed potent anti-inflammatory and gut-protective effects of specific citrus peels, insights now validated by genetic discoveries in wild mandarins. With multiple patents, clinical trials underway, and expertise navigating Canada’s Natural Health Product Regulations, Dr. Tait works at the intersection of science, regulation, and commercialization. His latest projects extend beyond citrus, exploring how invasive species like green crab shells can be transformed into valuable health products. At the heart of his work is a vision that food waste is medicine—unlocking solutions that benefit both human health and the planet.