It is estimated that the world currently loses close to 90% of its nutrients between the farm and the fork. Future global food security will consequently not only be reliant on reducing the third of food produced that is currently lost or wasted, it will also require the development of a nutrient retention paradigm as part of the circular economy. This talk discusses a logical approach to nutrient retention, including transformation technologies, to ensure that the greatest amount of nutrient is retained in the human food chain. It details how high value and nutritionally enhanced functional foods can be created from such an approach, for the economic benefit of innovators in the field. Notwithstanding, it also discusses the importance of reinvigorating the lost art of utilising food leftovers to retain nutrients, because over half of food waste occurs in households in the developed world. The development of a new paradigm of nutrient retention within the circular economy will be essential for global food security – with nutritional security for all, not just food security, being the ultimate aim.