USDA Food Loss and Waste Newsletter
New blog interview with USDA economist Linda Kantor
 
The latest USDA Food Loss and Waste blog features an interview with Linda Kantor, an agricultural economist at USDA’s Economic Research Service. Learn about the Loss-Adjusted Food Availability (LAFA) data series, which estimates quantity of food loss at the retail and consumer levels for 200 commodities such as beef, milk, canned tomatoes and vegetable oil. Read the blog.
Spanish-language USDA food waste education resources now available
 
USDA’s composting infographic is now available in Spanish at the USDA Food Loss and Waste consumer resources page. The business resources page offers a Spanish-language version of a fact sheet on the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Act, which encourages businesses to donate unused food by offering protection from liability.
 
USDA Farm to School Request for Applications Now Available
Application deadline: Jan. 10, 2022
 
In October, USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) released their FY22 Farm to School Grant Request for Applications (RFA). FNS expects to award $12 million for this program, which is designed to increase the availability of local foods in schools. These grants can help new Farm to School programs get started or expand existing efforts. Proposals can include projects that encourage the participation of school children in farm and garden-based agricultural education activities, including composting food waste for school gardens, and demonstrate collaboration between eligible schools, nongovernmental and community-based organizations, agricultural producer groups, and other community partners. There are three grant tracks in FY22: turnkey grants, implementation grants, and state agency grants. Learn more and apply at grants.gov
 
Joint USAID/USDA Request for Information on Global Insect Production
 
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) are seeking information, opinions, and recommendations on the emerging global insect production industry. The RFI encourages stakeholders and interested parties to provide information and recommendations regarding global production of insects for food, feed, and/or waste management as well as help the U.S. Government understand the potential challenges, benefits, environmental impacts, and inclusive development considerations of insect production. Read more about this RFI.
 
Webinar offers businesses guidance on reducing greenhouse gas emissions by reducing food loss and waste
 
Companies around the world are increasingly focused on ways to reduce their climate footprint. Reducing food loss and waste in a company’s operations and supply chain is way to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This Dec. 2 event is hosted by the World Resources Institute, Cargill, and Champions 12.3, an international food waste reduction coalition. The event will explores new guidance on how companies should quantify the GHG benefits from reducing food loss and waste, how to incorporate these reductions in their company inventories and science-based GHG reduction targets, and how to communicate about the climate benefits of reducing food loss and waste. Register today.
 
FAO Hosts Webinar on Global Perspectives on Food Loss and Waste
 
On November 4, 2021, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations’ (FAO) Liaison Office for North America hosted a virtual event highlighting multisector approaches to food loss and waste from the global, national, state, and local levels. During the webinar, FAO and the U.N. Environment Program provided an update on the Sustainable Development Goal’s Food Loss and Waste Index. USDA provided national insights, followed by case studies from Oregon Department of Environmental Quality and the Regional Municipality of York, Canada. The session also featured private sector perspectives from the Campbell Soup Company, and Food Heroes Pashon Murray, Founder, Detroit Dirt and Monique Chan, Founder, Bruized. Watch a recording of the webinar.
 
EPA Aligns Food Loss and Waste Reduction Goal with International Efforts  
 
The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) interpretation of the national food loss and waste (FLW) reduction goal for 2030 is now aligned with the relevant United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG). This new interpretation will encourage investment in preventing food waste and keeping it in the human supply chain — instead of just diverting it from landfills and incinerators — and drive more significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. For more information on the 2030 FLW reduction goal, visit EPA’s website. For more information on the United Nations’ Food Waste Index, visit the UNEP Food Waste Index Report 2021.