In a move towards sustainable waste management and environmental stewardship, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has allocated approximately $11.5 million across 38 cooperative agreements.
These agreements aim to bolster innovative waste management strategies, specifically targeting the reduction and diversion of food waste from landfills.
Funded by the American Rescue Plan Act, the Composting and Food Waste Reduction cooperative agreements represent a pivotal step in USDA’s broader support for urban agriculture.
Jointly administered by USDA’s Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), these initiatives are slated for implementation between now and 2026.
Terry Cosby, Chief of USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), emphasized the significance of these projects in mitigating food waste and greenhouse gas emissions.
He stressed the importance of local strategies in addressing climate concerns while enhancing food security at the community level.
USDA’s selection criteria prioritized projects that not only anticipate economic benefits but also focus on making compost readily accessible to farmers, including community gardeners.
Moreover, these initiatives integrate various food waste reduction strategies, such as food recovery efforts, and emphasize collaboration among multiple partners.
Dr. Manjit K. Misra, Director of NIFA, highlighted the customer-centric nature of these projects and their potential to significantly impact the agency’s goal of reducing food loss and waste.
The collaboration between NIFA and the Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production underscores USDA’s commitment to transforming the U.S. food system, providing more options, increasing access, and creating better markets for small and mid-size producers.
Recipients of the funding span 23 states, with each project addressing unique community needs. Notable examples include:
City of Cleveland, Ohio: Expanding drop-off residential composting locations, increasing waste diversion, and providing subsidized monthly subscriptions to composting services for SNAP-eligible households.
Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Pendleton, Ore: Initiating and expanding community efforts to improve waste management and food waste diversion from Tribal government facilities while engaging members on food waste management issues.
Ciudad Soil and Water Conservation District, Albuquerque, N.M. : Supporting a community compost co-op and a farm compost hub at locations that typically lack access to existing private composting services.
Through these initiatives, USDA and its partners are not only combatting food waste but also fostering community engagement and environmental sustainability. As the projects unfold, they are expected to yield tangible benefits, laying the groundwork for a more resilient and resource-efficient food system nationwide.
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