USDA Food Loss and Waste Newsletter
Recap Blog on USDA Food Loss and Waste Innovation Fair
 
On May 26, 2021, USDA hosted its first-ever Food Loss and Waste Innovation Fair. This virtual event highlighted U.S. Food Loss and Waste 2030 Champions, businesses that are creating or implementing USDA-funded state-of-the-art technical solutions to reduce food loss and waste throughout the food system, and USDA activities in this space. The fair’s food loss and waste publications, videos, links to exhibitors’ websites and additional downloadable resources are available online for one year, register to access these materials. Read more in this recap blog by USDA Food Loss and Waste Liaison Dr. Jean Buzby. 
Virtual  Innovation Fair
USDA Announces Grants for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production, Including Food Loss and Waste Reducing Activities
 
USDA is requesting applications for the fiscal year 2021 Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (UAIP) projects. Up to $4 million of funding will be available. There are two categories under the UAIP competitive grant opportunity: Planning Projects and Implementation Projects, including activities that reduce food loss and waste. USDA is accepting applications on Grants.gov. Application deadline: 11:59PM EDT on July 30, 2021. Read the full press release.
 
Following the Roadmap to 2030: Taking Action to Reduce U.S. Food Waste by 50 Percent
 
Join ReFED as they host seven webinars as part of a series designed to help users make the most of ReFED’s Insights Engine and Roadmap to 2030: Reducing U.S. Food Waste by 50%. ReFED is a non-profit organization composed of a network of the nation’s leading business, nonprofit, foundation, and government leaders committed to reducing U.S. food waste. The organization is also a formal partner with the USDA, EPA, and FDA Interagency Food Waste Initiative. Each installment of this series will look at key action areas of the Roadmap to 2030, exploring what’s happening on the ground, what challenges to reducing food waste remain, which solutions can make an impact, and how solution providers are already bringing them to life. Hear from experts across the food system – from food businesses to funders, innovators to policymakers, and more – who will participate in lively conversations about what needs to be done to reach our national goal of cutting food waste in half by 2030. Register to learn more at Webinar: Enhance Product Distribution (ReFED series).
 
EPA Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Funding Opportunity
 
The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) 2021-2022 SBIR Phase I solicitation supports eligible small businesses in the development and commercialization of innovative environmental technologies, including those that reduce or prevent food loss and waste. EPA is one of 11 federal agencies that participate in the SBIR Program as a result of the Small Business Innovation Development Act of 1982. With this solicitation, EPA is calling for small businesses to apply for Phase I awards for up to $100,000 to demonstrate proof of concept in one of the SBIR solicitation topic areas. Successful Phase I awardees are eligible to receive Phase II funding, up to $400,000 for two years, through an additional application process.