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Happy Spring!
March 19 marked the first day of spring! We hope you are enjoying the warming weather and the early blooming foliage.
Our Food Loss and Waste Team had a special visit from several future food loss and waste leaders during the 4-H IGNITE Conference in Washington, D.C. earlier this month. 4-H members had the opportunity to learn more about food loss and waste and the work USDA is doing to help with prevention and reduction efforts. Those that took our Food Loss and Waste Pledge received a No Food Waste Club #LoveYourLeftovers pin of their choice, designed by our team.
With Food Waste Prevention Week (April 1-7) and Earth Day (April 22) right around the corner, there are lots of upcoming learning and engagement opportunities for food loss and waste reduction and prevention, many of which are free and virtual. Our team is hosting our own webinar event for Food Waste Prevention Week on Tuesday, April 2 at 12:00 p.m. ET entitled USDA Programs, Investments, and Innovations to Prevent and Reduce Food Loss and Waste. Register today for this free, virtual event. Please take a moment to explore details on this event and other upcoming events, funding opportunities, and resources below.
Cheers,
The USDA Food Loss and Waste Team
Events
Food Waste Prevention Week, April 1-7 (virtual)
Food Waste Prevention Week participants offer virtual webinars throughout the week, providing numerous opportunities for learning and networking. Presenters include leaders across grass roots organizations, government, non-profit, and private industry. All webinars are free of charge.
USDA Programs, Investments, and Innovations to Prevent and Reduce Food Loss and Waste, Tuesday, April 2 (12:00 – 1:00 p.m. ET)
Please join Dr. Jean Buzby, USDA Food Loss and Waste Liaison, and our panel of leaders across USDA (Office of the Chief Economist, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, and the Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production) to learn about some of the ways USDA engages in food loss and waste prevention and reduction across the U.S. food supply chain during this free virtual webinar. Register today.
How FRN’s Data is Driving Impact, April 3 (3:00 p.m. ET, virtual)
Join the Food Recovery Network (FRN) for a deep dive into how they are using data sets and mapping research as part of their efforts to redirect surplus food that would otherwise be wasted to local nonprofits that feed community members experiencing hunger.
Future 2024 Events
Funding Opportunities
USDA Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvement Guaranteed Loans and Grants (Multiple deadlines: March 31, June 30, Sept. 30)
The program provides guaranteed loan financing and grant funding to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for renewable energy systems or to make energy efficiency improvements. Agricultural producers may also apply for new energy efficient equipment and new system loans for agricultural production and processing. Funds may be used for the purchase and installation of renewable energy systems, including anaerobic digesters (that can incorporate food waste as a feedstock). This program is open for Fiscal Years 2023 and 2024.
USDA Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (UAIP) Grants (Deadline: April 9, 2024)
The Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (UAIP) Competitive Grants Program supports a wide range of activities through Planning Projects and Implementation Projects. Activities include operating community gardens and nonprofit farms, increasing food production and access in economically distressed communities, providing job training and education, and developing business plans and zoning. These grants initiate or expand efforts of farmers, gardeners, citizens, government officials, schools, and other stakeholders in urban areas and suburbs. Nonprofits, local governments, Native American Tribal governments and organizations, and schools are eligible for these opportunities.
USDA Composting and Food Waste Reduction (CFWR) Cooperative Agreements (2024 application coming soon)
The Composting and Food Waste Reduction (CFWR) Cooperative Agreements assist local and municipal governments with projects that develop and test strategies for planning and implementing municipal compost plans and food waste reduction plans. Implementation activities increase access to compost for agricultural producers, improve soil quality and encourages innovative, scalable waste management plans that reduce and divert food waste from landfills. Municipalities, counties, local governments, State and federally recognized tribes, or city planners are eligible.
EPA Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants Program (rolling deadline)
EPA’s Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights is awarding approximately $2 billion in Community Change Grants to fund community-driven projects that address climate challenges and reduce pollution while strengthening communities through thoughtful implementation. Funds for this grant program were made available by the Inflation Reduction Act. Eligible entities include partnerships between two community-based organizations (CBOs) or a partnership between a CBO and a local government, federally recognized Tribe, or institute of higher education.
EPA Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (Deadline: April 1, 2024, Tribes and territories due May 1, 2024)
EPA is announcing the availability of $4.6 billion across two implementation grant competitions, one general competition and one specifically for Tribes and territories. Under these funding opportunities, eligible applicants will compete for climate pollution reduction implementation grants to fund measures in their state-, municipality-, Tribe-, or territory-specific climate action plans. As part of its application evaluation, EPA will prioritize measures that achieve the greatest reduction in GHG emissions. Measures that address waste (including food waste) and materials management are within the scope. For more information, read the General Competition Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), the Tribes and Territories Competition NOFO, and the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant website. Learn more about the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants program. Check out the new Quantified Climate Action Measures Directory. EPA has added additional climate action plans to its database of government climate action plans that address materials management and waste.
Resources
USDA Local and Regional Food Systems Resource Guide
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Local and Regional Food Systems Resource Guide (LRFS Resource Guide) was developed by Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) and Rural Development (RD). It is intended to help stakeholders navigate USDA resources to strengthen local and regional food systems. Stakeholders can use these resources to partner with USDA to address climate change, create more and better market opportunities, support food and nutrition security, and advance racial justice, equity, opportunity and rural prosperity. See section “Investment Focus: Food Loss and Waste Reduction and Recovery” on page 49 for relevant funding opportunities.
Food Loss and Waste Federal Grants Database
ReFED, in partnership with NRDC, released the Federal Grants Database as a centralized place to identify food loss and waste-specific federal funding opportunities. The resource provides detailed, relevant information per funding opportunity including grant name, description, and agency that it’s associated with, eligibility criteria, program and application links, application due dates and status, and minimum and maximum grant amounts.
Waste Methane Assessment Platform (WasteMAP)
The Rocky Mountain Institute released WasteMAP, developed with the Clean Air Task Force and funding from the Global Methane Hub. WasteMAP is a tool to improve methane emissions transparency and help identify opportunities for mitigation of methane emissions from solid waste and is accompanied by a decision support tool.
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