USDA, EPA and FDA recently released a draft technique to prevent food loss and waste and promote recycling of organics. This plan aims to support a circular economy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, save money, and create cleaner communities.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 2, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have unveiled the Draft National Strategy for Reducing Food Loss and Waste and Recycling Organics. This strategy outlines specific actions that will be taken to prevent food loss and waste and mitigate the environmental impacts of wasted food, including its effect on the climate.
“Food loss and waste presents a significant challenge to agriculture, food, and the environment. In order to address this issue and build a resilient food system while reducing environmental impacts, we need to explore and implement innovative solutions,” stated Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “This collaboration between USDA, EPA, and FDA will enhance interagency coordination and represents a crucial step towards preventing food loss and waste, increasing organic waste recycling, and promoting economic opportunity.”
This announcement was made at COP28, the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference, and aligns with USDA’s objectives to enhance agriculture’s ability to address global food security, manage the effects of climate change, and engage in innovative practices.
This strategy is a deliverable in the Biden-Harris Administration’s National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health, which was released in partnership with the historic White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health in September 2022.
The draft strategy sets four goals:
- Preventing the loss of food where possible.
- Preventing the waste of food where possible.
- Increasing the recycling rate for all organic waste.
- Supporting policies that incentivize and encourage food loss and waste prevention and organics recycling.
It builds on USDA’s previous work to reduce food loss and waste, including providing guidance through research and data to develop and promote new food innovations and technologies, implementing compost and food waste reduction grants, and increasing the number of U.S. Food Loss and Waste 2030 Champions.
For each goal, the draft strategy highlights actions that USDA, EPA, and FDA could take. Some of the priority USDA actions include:
- Investing $30 million in the Composting and Food Waste Reduction (CFWR) Cooperative Agreements.
- Expanding partnerships with NIFA food system programs to further develop educational materials, research, and outreach for food loss and waste prevention.
- Financing research and development on innovative new packaging technology to extend the shelf life of food and prevent loss.
USDA will also continue outreach to businesses on the liability protections afforded by the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act.
USDA welcomes comments on the Draft National Strategy for Reducing Food Loss and Waste and Recycling Organics.
