The USDA recognizes the impacts of food loss and food waste on food security and the environment. USDA, in concert with agency partners, is working toward the goal of reducing food loss and food waste by 50 percent by 2030.
In the latest effort in reduction activities, the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program is leading a national Community Foods Project (CFP) Food Loss and Waste Training and Technical Assistance Grants Program, funded through USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). A total of $8 million is being provided to 14 organizations across the nation.
The program supports projects that align with the National Strategy for Reducing Food Loss and Waste and Recycling Organics, released in June 2024. The program prioritizes preventing food from becoming waste, diverting edible food to people through donation or upcycling, and feeding animals. The goals of the Food Loss and Waste Training and Technical Assistance Grants Program are to:
- Increase the self-reliance of communities in providing for their own food needs;
- Promote comprehensive responses to local food access, farm, and nutrition issues;
- Identify strategies for reducing food loss and waste by identifying value-added production opportunities;
- Meet specific state, local, or neighborhood food and agriculture needs for planning for long-term solutions;
- Create innovative marketing activities that mutually benefit agricultural stakeholders and consumers.
- Describe how the research or training and technical assistance will lead to improved quality of life for producers, communities and consumers.
Fourteen organizations have been awarded funding to both reduce food loss and waste, and educate a variety of audiences about their reduction techniques. These organizations are diverse in size, geographic location, and in their focus on one or more parts of the food supply chain.
In the North Central region, the awardees are:
Milk Waste Reduction Strategies in Childcare Centers in Illinois
Over 66% of U.S. preschoolers attend childcare daily, but up to 40% of milk served is wasted. A new study in Illinois childcare centers aims to reduce this waste through the CACFP program.
Reducing Food Waste and Enhancing Specialty Crop Farm Viability in Minnesota
The Good Acre is tackling food waste with farmer support, buyer education, and a 'seconds' market—boosting food access and helping small produce farms thrive.
Less Food Waste, More Family Meals: Encouraging Shared Mealtime in Missouri
This SARE project in Kansas City aims to double prepared food donations from the food service sector, validating ReFED data and creating a playbook to help other cities turn surplus food into meals for families.
Good Food Belongs to the People of Southwest Ohio
Last Mile in Ohio rescues fresh food to fight waste and feed those in need, aiming to save 6 million pounds annually while raising regional awareness on food waste prevention.
Explore these funded projects at: www.sare.org/resources/food-loss-and-waste/. For more information about this grant program, contact Lisa Johnson, National SARE Food Loss and Waste Grant Manager at FLW@sare.org.