USDA invests $25M more into food loss programs
In the U.S., over one-third of all available food goes uneaten through loss or waste. When food is tossed aside, so too are opportunities for improved food security, economic growth and environmental prosperity.
To reduce and prevent such widespread food loss and waste, the USDA has recently invested an additional $25 million investment to expand efforts to prevent and reduce food loss and waste, according to a news release. The investment, funded under the American Rescue Plan Act, is part of a joint agency initiative between USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture and USDA’s Office of the Chief Economist.
The collaboration is one piece of the USDA’s framework to transform the U.S. food system to benefit consumers, producers and rural communities by providing more options, increasing access, and creating new and better markets for small and mid-size producers, the release said.
“USDA NIFA is extensively engaged in research, Extension and educational activities to mitigate food loss and waste,” Chavonda Jacobs-Young, USDA’s chief scientist and undersecretary for research, education and economics, said in the release. “Several NIFA grant programs focusing on this issue align with USDA’s cross-cutting priorities to address the impacts of climate change, ensure food and nutrition security, strengthen rural economies, and ensure racial justice and equity.”
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Since 2017, NIFA has committed $123.5 million across 527 projects relating to food loss and waste, the release said. This latest investment will expand several of NIFA’s core programs by $25 million, according to the agency.
Where the $25 million is headed
The additional funding will support the Community Food Projects Competitive Grants Program to reduce food loss and waste, get surplus wholesome food to individuals and develop connections between food producers, providers and food recovery organizations, according to the release.
Additionally, NIFA has awarded $4.3 million to 12 CFP Food Loss and Waste projects from a fiscal year 2023 competition. These projects meet the goals of the program and integrate actionable activities that reduce food waste within the local food system by keeping wholesome food in the human food supply chain and saving money for families and businesses, according to the release.
“The programs supported by this funding are cornerstones in NIFA’s agriculture, food safety and nutrition portfolio,” NIFA Director Manjit K. Misra said in the release. “This funding will increase engagement around nutritional health from the classroom to the community, with an emphasis on reducing food loss and waste.”
The funds will also support NIFA’s Food and Agriculture Service Learning Program grants for food loss and waste reduction on school grounds to engage in and scale up efforts that increase capacity for students to learn how to prevent food waste, change the school environment, and use cafeterias and other parts of school grounds as classrooms, according to the agency.
“This additional investment will have multiple, positive outcomes,” Jean Buzby, USDA food loss and waste liaison, said in the release. “Grants supported by this investment will reduce the amount of excess food going to waste and help make wholesome and nutritious foods available to those who need it most. Now that’s a win-win.”
The remaining funds will support forthcoming food loss and waste efforts in collaboration with the National 4-H Council and the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program, according to the release.
