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Federal Agencies Partner With Food Waste Reduction Alliance
The agencies and founding associations will take action to reduce food loss. The alliance founded by the Food Marketing Institute, Grocery Manufacturers Association and National Restaurant Association will work with the USDA, FDA and EPA to reduce food loss.
WGB Staff
November 1, 2019
2 Min Read
The alliance founded by the Food Marketing Institute, Grocery Manufacturers Association and National Restaurant Association will work with the USDA, FDA and EPA to reduce food loss.Photograph: Shutterstock
A coalition of food industry trade groups across the supply chain will work with three federal agencies to advance a joint food waste initiative.
The Food Waste Reduction Alliance (FWRA) said it has entered a formal agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It is the latest move in the government agencies’ effort in the Winning on Reducing Food Waste initiative, which launched in 2018. The purpose of the FWRA is to reduce the amount of food waste generated; increase the amount of safe, nutritious food donated to those in need; and divert food waste from landfills.
“FWRA was founded with the conviction that the entire supply chain has a role to play in reducing food waste; food retailers are committed to fulfilling their responsibility in addressing this issue of such tremendous impact for the communities we serve,” said Food Marketing Institute (FMI) President and CEO Leslie Sarasin. “Today’s formal agreement with our government agency partners represents a significant cross-functional commitment to pursue and amplify policies that encourage environmental, societal and business innovation.”
FMI, the Grocery Manufacturers Association and the National Restaurant Association are partners in the project, which said it would work to build upon the following strategic priority areas of the Winning on Reducing Food Waste initiative:
Educating and engaging the food manufacturing, retail, restaurant and foodservice industries to reduce food waste, including strategies to prevent, recover and recycle excess food.
Informing stakeholders of the food waste reduction recognition programs currently available at each respective agency.
Sharing best practices on successful, creative and innovative solutions to reduce wasted food across industry sectors.
Increasing industry awareness of the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Act so as to encourage safe and effective food donation and recovery.
The federal agencies said they would formalize industry education and outreach efforts with FWRA, which represents food manufacturing, retail and foodservice.
“Reducing food loss and waste has many environmental and social benefits. By collaborating with these major segments of the food supply chain, we are making progress toward the national goal to reduce food loss and waste by 50% by 2030,” said EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler.
FWRA will continue to strategically focus on bringing industry innovation to the forefront through case studies and current industry best practices. Since 2011, FWRA has released insights, model practices and emerging solutions compiled from more than 40 FWRA member companies and expert partners from the hunger relief and waste management sectors.
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