Food Loss and Waste

Importance of Addressing Food Loss and Waste

Food loss and waste (FLW) occurs when it is rotting in fields, being incinerated, and/or ending up in landfills. The cost of FLW to United States farmers, manufacturers, households, and others is approximately $408 billion annually.

Strategies to recover food that would otherwise be lost or wasted could help deliver additional wholesome foods, especially fresh, frozen, dried, or canned vegetables and fruit, to emergency food assistance organizations, such as food banks and food pantries. This in turn could have health and economic benefits for households that use such resources when they are experiencing food insecurity. Such strategies would also contribute to feeding the growing global population.

NIFA’s Impact

NIFA is extensively invested in research, extension, education, and innovation to mitigate FLW. NIFA also now houses the USDA Food Loss and Waste Liaison. USDA is a member of the Federal Interagency Collaboration to Reduce Food Loss and Waste, which also includes the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the US Agency for International Development (USAID). This Collaboration aims to reduce FLW by 50% by 2030.

Other NIFA Food Loss and Waste Highlights

The National Center for Home Food Preservation 
Provides current research-based recommendations for most methods of home food preservation. The Center was established with funding from the Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service, US Department of Agriculture (CSREES-USDA) to address food safety concerns for those who practice and teach home food preservation and processing methods.

Master Gardener Program 
Supports and encourages the planting, growing, and harvesting of gardens to improve the lives of individuals of all abilities. The Extension Master Gardener program serves as a critical linkage point between the agricultural knowledge of the nation’s Land-grant Institutions and everyday people and their concerns. Master gardeners teach workshops, staff information hotlines, manage demonstration gardens, speak at events, and partner with organizations like 4-H to bring garden and food production skills to broader audiences.

Master Food Preserver Program 
Serves to extend Extension’s education programs in food preservation to adults and youth. The Master Food Preserver serves as a volunteer and as a resource in the community to provide the public with research-based information and training through lectures, discussions and hands-on kitchen lab experiences.

Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) 
SARE offers farmer-driven, grassroots grants and education programs. Since 1988, SARE grantees have been putting the principles of sustainable agriculture into practice on farms and ranches in every state and island protectorate. SARE is leading a national Community Food Project Food Loss and Waste Training and Technical Assistance Grants Program, funded through NIFA for a total of $8 million being provided to 14 organizations across the nation.

Additional NIFA Programs Requesting Food Loss and Waste Efforts

• 1890 Institution Teaching, Research and Extension Capacity Building Grants (CBG) Program
• AFRI Sustainable Agricultural Systems
• Alaska Native-Serving and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions (ANNH) Competitive Education Grants Program
• Community Food Projects Competitive Grants Program (CFPCGP)
• Economics, Markets and Trade (A1641)
• Federally-Recognized Tribes Extension Program
• Food and Agriculture Service Learning Program (FASLP)
• Resident Instruction Grants for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas (RIIA) Programs
• Social Implications of Food and Agricultural Technologies (A1642)
• Tribal Extension Grant Program