Matt Rogers, CEO of Mill, is recognized in Time's 100 Most Influential Climate Leaders of 2026 for his work turning food waste into useful products. Mill's commercial-scale system processes food waste on-site and uses AI to help kitchens reduce waste. Starting in 2027, Whole Foods will use the technology to convert fruit and vegetable waste into chicken feed, and a partnership with Compass Group will bring the service to corporate dining, hospitals, universities, and stadiums. Rogers also discusses his early investment in carbon dioxide removal, which helped fund research that influenced the Inflation Reduction Act. He emphasizes the need for ecosystem-wide support and notes that billions in federal funding now support carbon removal. On AI, he argues it can help with grid modernization and infrastructure but warns against solutions that add emissions. His approach mirrors his Nest experience: great technology must be paired with policy, incentives, and partnerships to scale.
