WASHINGTON, D.C. — On May 30, 2024, three federal powerhouses – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – renewed their commitment to drastically reduce food loss and waste. This commitment also received a boost with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) joining the alliance, providing an international perspective to the already noteworthy initiative.
Officials from all four entities signed the agreement, thus strengthening their collaborative attempt to mitigate food loss and waste. They pledged to cut such waste by half by the year 2030, an ambition set to be driven not only by the government machinery but also with the active involvement of consumers and retailers.
The FDA is already offering resources such as the 2024 Food Code and Tips to Reduce Food Waste to assist in the endeavor. Simultaneously, the federal collaboration will continue to develop tools, conduct outreach activities, initiate research, encourage policy discussions, and foster public-private partnerships to further the cause.
Adding USAID to the effort allows the U.S. government to reach a wider, more global audience, ensuring the efficient use of government resources. The goal is to involve private, non-governmental sectors to drive national and global change and reduce food loss and waste.
A shining example of this endeavor is the expansion of membership in the U.S. Food Loss and Waste 2030 Champions. The Champions, who have committed to reducing food loss and waste in their U.S. operations by 50% by 2030, now include 50 companies, up from 30.
The world today faces a staggering reality where 30-40% of food produced is lost or wasted throughout the supply chain – from fields to consumers. The U.S. alone discards nearly 80 billion pounds of food into municipal solid waste landfills annually. This wastage represents missed opportunities for enhanced food security, economic growth, and environmental prosperity.
Established in 2018, the Federal Interagency Collaboration to Reduce Food Loss and Waste has been making strides in this direction. It has drafted a National Strategy and is in the process of fine-tuning it to realize the national goal of cutting food loss and waste by 50% by 2030.
The strategy is a forward-looking blueprint for the future, outlining actions that will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, save money for households and businesses, and promote cleaner communities. This significant development in the U.S. government’s active involvement in reducing food waste is an essential step towards a future of improved food security, economic growth, and environmental prosperity.
As the Federal Interagency Collaboration continues to build on its work, it is also looking towards the future, forging ahead with its plans for the National Strategy. This renewed commitment and expanded collaboration illustrate the seriousness with which the U.S. government is tackling this pressing issue. These strides emphasize the importance of collective action in achieving a more sustainable and secure future, reflecting the potential benefits of reduced food waste for society, the economy, and our environment.
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