Meet Hunter Halder: The American Champion Tackling Food Waste in Lisbon

In 2011, Halder kicked off a life-changing journey. He began rescuing leftover food from top restaurants in Lisbon and biking it to those in need.

After the financial crisis in 2009 and 2010, Halder had to rethink his career. At 59, he realized that all his professional achievements were primarily for himself. He felt it was time to shift focus toward helping others.

The idea for Re-food came about during a dinner with his daughters. As they enjoyed their meal, Halder recognized that leftover food could be saved instead of wasted. Inspired, he drafted the plan for the Re-food movement that very night.

“When I said the word ‘alternative,’ I had a flash of light. It is a solution to so much good food going into the garbage every day.”

In the first month, Halder collected and delivered 1,000 meals to 40 people using his bike. By the second month, he had 30 volunteers. At the end of the first year, that number grew to 70. “We grew because of the goodwill of the people,” Halder shares.

The Re-food Movement has since expanded across Portugal, with 60 communities joining in, including twenty operation centers in Lisbon. It’s a powerful example of how community effort can lead to meaningful change.

“The growth of Re-food shows that when people come together, they can make a real impact,” Halder explains.

Not only has Re-food flourished in Portugal, but it has also spread to Spain, Italy, America, and recently, Brazil. This movement illustrates that collective small actions can lead to significant change.

In Europe, 33 million people struggle to afford a quality meal every other day. With food insecurity on the rise during tough economic times, programs like Re-food are vital. The initiative aligns with the EU’s goal to reduce food waste by half by 2030, as detailed in the Farm to Fork strategy.

Re-food matches Lisbon’s motto as European Green Capital 2020: “Choose to evolve.” Halder chose to change his path, leaving his career behind to focus on helping those in need.

As Halder puts it, “There are countless ways we can impact our communities, and each of us has the power to do so.”

“Every citizen has the ability to create change. Together, we can make a difference,” he insists.