Earth Day Food Waste

Earth Day Food Waste

Maura Bennett
Maura Bennett

Earth Day is today, and the USDA is using the event’s 51st anniversary to focus on reducing food loss and waste.

The USDA, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Food and Drug Administration are collaborating on plans to meet the national goal of reducing food waste in the US by half by 2030.

Jean Buzby, USDA Food Loss, and Waste Liaison.

Buzby: “In the United States more than a third of food goes uneaten through loss or waste. And wasting food is wasting money. An average family wastes nearly 1500 of food each year. Food in landfills produces harmful methane gas. Before you go to the grocery store or order online, make a list so you don’t buy more than you need. You can also love your leftovers. Pack leftovers in shallow containers and refrigerate or freeze immediately.”

The Agriculture Department has released a consumer video and an infographic with tips and advice on how to reduce food waste. The idea according to the USDA is that we can always take steps to further reduce the amount of food we waste at each meal.

The Public-Private collaboration, Restore Colorado is launching with 17 restaurants and businesses in direct support of regional regenerative farming. Member restaurants collect a few cents per meal that become grants for carbon farming projects. This funding helps Colorado farmers and ranchers get started with regenerative practices such as compost application, perennial and cover crop planting, reduced tillage, and grazing management for healthy soil. Check out www.Zerofoodprint.org for more information.

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