USDA announces $2M in funding to reduce food waste

The U.S. Department of Agriculture will be providing $2 million to local governments who host composting and food waste reduction pilot projects in an effort to improve urban food production.

The funding for the Community Compost and Food Waste Reduction (CCFWR) projects is being made available through USDA's Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovation Production. This is the second year the office has offered this funding opportunity.

“Finding ways to turn food waste into nutrient rich compost is a win-win for farmers, communities and the environment,” said Gloria Montaño Greene, deputy undersecretary for farm production and conservation. “The level of enthusiasm and creativity communities are putting towards this kind of problem solving is inspiring, and USDA is proud to support it.”

According to the USDA, priority will be given to 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.

The projects should span two years with a start date of September 25, 2021 and completion date of September 25, 2023.

Terry Crosby, acting chief of USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service, told Agri-Pulse that the department distributed roughly $1 million for 13 projects in 2020.

“We’re looking for great projects, so whatever that cost is we’ll spend that $2 million and hope to do a few more,” he said.

Past projects selected for the funding include the New York Department of Sanitation (DSNY) and nonprofit Big Reuse establishing food scrap drop-off locations. Another example is the city of Prescott, Arizona, which collaborated with a local farmers’ market, volunteers, restaurants, Yavapai County Cooperative Extension and Prescott College to design, build and implement the Prescott Community Compost Program.