U.N. Food Systems Summit Listening Session
On September 3, USDA, the U.S. Agency for International Development, and the Department of State are organizing a virtual listening session to prepare for the U.N. Food Systems Summit scheduled for September 23. The stated goal of the Food Systems Summit is to transform the way the world produces, consumes and thinks about foods within the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and to meet the challenges of poverty, food security, malnutrition, population growth, climate change, and natural resource degradation. Stakeholders -- including organizations with an interest in food systems and food security; state, local, and tribal groups, private industry, and academic and scientific organizations -- are welcome to share knowledge, ideas, feedback, and suggestions relating to agenda items to be discussed at the UN Food Systems Summit. Register for this free, virtual event by Thursday, August 26.
Latest Food Waste Blog – Back to School Tips
As the school season begins, USDA Food Loss and Waste Liaison Jean Buzby offers practical suggestions to reduce food waste in the lunch box. Read this and other USDA blogs on food loss and waste prevention and reduction.
New EPA Reports on Emerging Issues in Food Waste Management
The U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) encourages the recycling of food waste. This practice has important outcomes like reducing landfill methane emissions and recovering valuable nutrients and energy from food. However, there are concerns about the levels of plastic and persistent chemical contaminants, including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in food waste streams. EPA recently published two state of the science reports about contamination in food waste streams. One report studies the effects of this contamination on composting and anaerobic digestion and the potential risks to human health and the environment of applying soil amendments (compost or digestate) made from food waste streams to land. The reports also identified priority research needs to inform food waste management decisions. Read the reports and a summary fact sheet.
ReFED Webinar Series: Following the Roadmap to 2030: Taking Action to Reduce U.S. Food Waste by 50 Percent
Experts from across the food system discuss how we can reach the goal of a 50 percent reduction in food waste by 2030. Each installment of the webinar series will explore one of the key action areas of the Roadmap to 2030, what’s happening on the ground, the challenges to reducing food waste, which solutions can make an impact, and how solution providers are already bringing them to life. Upcoming webinar topics include reshaping consumer environments, strengthening food rescue, and recycling. Register today.
September 29 is International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste
The International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste will be observed for the second time on September 29. Recognized by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, the day is a call to action for both the public and private sectors to prioritize actions and innovations to reduce food loss and waste. Learn how to get involved at the FAO webpage.
