Abstract The production of hydrogen via subcritical water gasification of model food waste compounds, glucose and glutamic acid representing carbohydrate and protein has been studied. The influence of NaOH additive, Ni/Al 2 O 3 and Ni/SiO 2 catalysts and combinations of these catalysts in relation to hydrogen production was investigated at a temperature of 330 °C and 13.5 MPa pressure. Generally, glucose produced more hydrogen gas than glutamic acid even with NaOH. Hydrogen production from the model food waste compounds in the presence of NaOH was superior to that of the investigated nickel catalysts supported on SiO 2 and Al 2 O 3 . The production of hydrogen gas increased when NaOH was added, whereas other gases, CO, CO 2 and hydrocarbons (C 1 –C 4 ) decreased with increasing concentration of NaOH. Combination of the catalysts Ni/SiO 2 or Ni/Al 2 O 3 with NaOH alkali only slightly increased hydrogen production. The addition of NaOH reduced the amount of CO 2 , and tar produced during subcritical water gasification of the model compounds, unlike when Ni/SiO 2 and Ni/Al 2 O 3 catalysts were used. Furthermore NaOH decreased the amount of carbon deposited on the Ni/SiO 2 and Ni/Al 2 O 3 catalyst surface. However the formation of dawsonite was confirmed and provided experimental evidence of the reaction of sodium hydroxide with alumina in Ni/Al 2 O 3 , with a potential for decreased catalytic activity.