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Upcycled Plant Power (UPP) Limited develops sustainable, hypoallergenic plant-based protein and fiber ingredients for the food industry. The company employs advanced AI-powered harvesting technology, branded as Harvesta, to process agricultural by-products like broccoli directly at farms. This innovative approach efficiently transforms overlooked plant material, otherwise destined for waste, into high-value functional components.
David Whitewood founded the company in June 2022. Whitewood’s insight stemmed from identifying the vast potential in unused agricultural biomass, specifically broccoli stems and leaves, as a rich, untapped source of plant protein and fiber. This recognition drives UPP’s core strategy to address food waste and foster scalable resource utilization.
UPP primarily serves food manufacturers seeking to enhance product lines with environmentally conscious, nutritious ingredients. The company’s overarching vision is to significantly contribute to the decarbonization of the food system by pioneering a more circular economy for food production. UPP endeavors to establish new standards for sustainable ingredient sourcing.
Upcycled Plant Power (UPP) Limited has raised $2.6M across 2 funding rounds.
Upcycled Plant Power (UPP) Limited has raised $2.6M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Upcycled Plant Power (UPP) Limited has raised $2.6M across 2 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $2.0M Other Equity in October 2025.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 23, 2025 | $2M Venture Round | Jonathan Pollack | — | Announced |
| Jan 1, 2023 | $620K Seed | Elbow Beach Capital | — | Announced |
Upcycled Plant Power (UPP) Limited has raised $2.6M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Upcycled Plant Power (UPP) Limited's investors include Jonathan Pollack, Elbow Beach Capital.
# Upcycled Plant Power (UPP) Limited: Transforming Agricultural Waste into Sustainable Protein
Upcycled Plant Power (UPP) is a UK-based food-tech company that transforms underutilised crop parts—particularly broccoli stalks—into hypoallergenic, nutritious, and sustainable protein and fibre ingredients for food manufacturers.[1] The company addresses a critical inefficiency in agriculture: approximately 80% of broccoli crops are wasted.[8] UPP serves food producers seeking to decarbonise their products by providing plant-based ingredients that reduce Scope 3 CO₂ emissions while maintaining taste and nutritional quality.[6] The company's dual-revenue model benefits both food manufacturers and farmers by creating value from previously discarded biomass, supporting UK food security and improving farmer profitability.
UPP was founded in 2022 by David Whitewood, Martin Stace, and Pollybell Farms, a leading organic farming operation.[5] The company is registered as a private limited company (Company number 14171122) and is based in Shropshire, England, at the UK Agri-tech Centre.[3] The founding team identified a fundamental problem in crop economics: the labour-intensive nature of broccoli harvesting made it expensive, while the nutritious stalks left behind represented wasted resources. This insight led to the development of proprietary harvesting technology designed to make crop waste economically viable.
UPP operates at the intersection of three critical trends: the circular economy, alternative protein, and agricultural technology.[1] The company addresses the food waste crisis—a major contributor to global emissions—while simultaneously tackling labour shortages in agriculture through automation. As food manufacturers face increasing pressure to reduce Scope 3 emissions and meet sustainability targets, UPP's ingredients offer a scalable solution that doesn't require new agricultural land or supply chain disruption.
The timing is particularly significant given regulatory momentum around food waste reduction and corporate carbon reporting. UPP's technology demonstrates how agri-tech innovation can unlock value from existing agricultural systems rather than requiring wholesale transformation, making sustainability economically attractive for both farmers and food producers.
UPP is positioned for significant growth following its £3.5 million seed funding round in October 2025, led by Elbow Beach with £1.5 million, complemented by £500,000 in government grants.[2] The capital injection will accelerate scaling of Harvesta and market expansion for its Prota and Fiba ingredients. As a micro-sized company (turnover under £1M as of recent filings), UPP remains in early scaling phase, but the combination of proprietary technology, strong investor backing, and growing demand for sustainable protein ingredients positions it well.
The company's trajectory will likely depend on three factors: successful commercialisation of Harvesta across UK broccoli farms, market adoption of its protein ingredients by major food manufacturers, and potential expansion beyond broccoli to other high-waste crops. If UPP can demonstrate that its model improves farmer economics while delivering cost-competitive ingredients, it could become a blueprint for transforming other commodity crops—expanding its influence from a niche agri-tech player to a foundational infrastructure company in the sustainable food system.
