Tackling Food Waste: A Comprehensive National Strategy

The Biden-Harris Administration, in collaboration with three government agencies, has recently unveiled the final National Strategy for Reducing Food Loss and Waste and Recycling Organics. This comprehensive plan aims to address the pressing issue of food waste, offering a multifaceted approach to prevent loss, enhance recycling, and drive sustainable change across the food system.

Transforming the Food Landscape: A Collaborative Effort

Aligning Ambitious Goals

The National Strategy is driven by three overarching goals: the National Food Loss and Waste Reduction Goal, which aims to reduce food loss and waste by 50 percent; the National Recycling Goal, which targets a 50 percent recycling rate; and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal Target 12.3, which seeks to halve per capita global food waste at the retail level and reduce food loss along production and supply chains.

Strengthening Interagency Collaboration

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have joined forces to develop and implement the National Strategy. Recently, the agencies renewed their agreement under the Federal Interagency Collaboration to Reduce Food Loss and Waste (FIFLAW), further solidifying their commitment to tackling this critical issue. The collaboration has now expanded to include the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), enabling a broader reach and greater impact on global food waste reduction efforts.

Addressing the Scale of the Challenge

The agencies acknowledge the ambitious nature of the 50 percent reduction goal, recognizing the scale and complexity of the food waste challenge. As Jean Buzby, USDA Food Loss and Waste Liaison, notes, "the national goal to reduce food loss and waste by 50 percent by 2030 is ambitious, particularly because of the scale of the problem, and that [food loss and waste] occurs from farm to fork for many reasons." The staggering statistic that one-third of all food produced for human consumption goes uneaten underscores the magnitude of the task at hand.

Incorporating Public Feedback

Prior to the release of the final National Strategy, the agencies sought public input on the draft report. Over 10,327 comment letters were received, including contributions from industry and trade organizations, national and community-based non-profit organizations, government agencies, and private individuals. The comments, summarized in Appendix A of the National Strategy, highlighted concerns about government involvement in food and the potential for food shortages, as well as suggestions for increasing the use of anaerobic digestion, regulating and standardizing date labels, enhancing compost collection, and expanding collaboration beyond the FIFLAW.

Securing Funding and Developing Tools

The final National Strategy outlines the various sources of funding secured by the agencies to support the numerous initiatives outlined in the plan. Additionally, the report details the specific tools that are being used and developed to prevent food loss and waste, track trends and progress, and enhance recycling programs.

Fostering Partnerships for Collective Impact

The National Strategy emphasizes the importance of partnerships in achieving the ambitious goals. The agencies are forging collaborations with national and international organizations, businesses, and governments, as well as with actors at different stages of the food supply chain. These public-private partnerships are seen as crucial, as evidenced by the success of the U.S. Food Loss and Waste 2030 Champions program, a partnership between USDA, EPA, and approximately 45 private businesses and organizations committed to reducing food loss and waste.

A Shared Responsibility

As Buzby aptly states, "everyone has a role to play in reducing food loss and waste and there is no single strategy to reach this goal. Government alone can't solve this problem." The National Strategy recognizes the need for a collective effort, engaging stakeholders across the food system to drive meaningful and lasting change.