Source: PRESS RELEASE, 9/11/19

Today, the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture adopted new policy on food waste at its 2019 Annual Meeting. The action follows NASDA’s “Pledge to end Food Waste” in April 2019 during “Winning on Reducing Food Waste Month,” a collaborative effort lead by the EPA, FDA and USDA.

Commissioners, secretaries and directors will use their united voice through NASDA to reinforce the pledge, bring states’ agricultural perspective to the issue and work with a diverse range of stakeholders to find solutions that address food waste. In addition, NASDA members will also emphasize the need to preserve our natural resources, reduce agricultural inputs and continue to feed everyone.

“Wasting food wastes natural resources. Reducing food waste is an undeniably important issue for the food and agriculture industry. It’s estimated that 30 to 40 percent of food is lost throughout the supply chain,” NASDA CEO Barb Glenn said. “NASDA members are proud to amplify our pledge, team together all 50 states and four territories, and work alongside local and federal partners to address food waste in our country.”

NASDA’s new policy states:

• NASDA supports public policies that offer opportunities to reduce, recover and recycle food waste;
• NASDA supports efforts to improve coordination and communication amongst federal, state and local stakeholders to use resources more efficiently and effectively to address food waste;
• NASDA supports the federal food waste hierarchy framework;
• NASDA supports research efforts and new technologies that address reduction and/or recovery of food waste.