The U.S. Department of Agriculture is investing more than $7.5 million in 26 cooperative agreements that support innovative, scalable waste management plans to reduce and divert food waste from landfills and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The Composting and Food Waste Reduction cooperative agreements are part of USDA’s broad support for urban agriculture. The CFWR program is jointly administered by USDA’s Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture. The selected projects will be implemented between now and 2027.
“These Composting and Food Waste Reduction projects help communities reduce the harmful effects of food waste on the environment,” says Natural Resources Conservation Service Chief Terry Cosby. “Local strategies and tools like these are important climate solutions and also contribute to food security at the community level.”
USDA prioritized projects that anticipate or demonstrate economic benefits, incorporate plans to make compost easily accessible to farmers, including community gardeners, integrate other food waste strategies, including food recovery efforts, and collaborate with multiple partners.
“Efforts to reduce food loss and waste are a vital component of USDA NIFA’s food safety and nutrition portfolio,” said USDA NIFA Director Dr. Manjit Misra. “The projects funded through this initiative will generate new opportunities at the local level for improved food security, economic growth, and environmental prosperity.”
Recipients include projects in 15 states and one territory, including Sun Prairie, Wisconsin.
The City of Sun Prairie will integrate full-service composting into major city-wide events, implement composting and food waste reduction programs in the school district, pilot an 18-month curbside composting service for residents, and distribute compost to community gardens and urban farms.