Image of carrots being transported. Image of carrots being transported.

FFAR and Walmart Foundation Fund Expert Panel to Shrink Consumer Food Waste

Washington

WASHINGTON (August 15, 2019) – In the United States, up to 40 percent of food is thrown away. To address this food waste challenge, the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) awarded a $336,000 grant to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (National Academies) to develop in-depth strategies to reduce consumer food waste. FFAR’s grant to the National Academies was matched by a contribution from the Walmart Foundation for a total award of $673,000.

Food waste is the largest component in U.S. landfills and that food waste produces damaging greenhouse gasses. Furthermore, 85 percent of wasted food is discarded by consumer-facing businesses and homes, suggesting that consumer behavior is exacerbating food waste.

The National Academies is addressing food waste by convening an expert panel to study American food waste and make systems-level recommendations to shrink the consumer component. Comprised of experts in psychology, sociology, public health, behavioral study design, intervention design and implementation science, this ad-hoc committee is producing actionable recommendations to curb food waste. The resulting report of findings and recommendations to combat food waste will be made freely available and distributed to key stakeholders across the public and private sectors.

Portrait of Sally Rockey.

America’s farmers and food industry produce a bounty of food to feed our nation. Unfortunately, too much of it ends up in landfills. Solutions that work across the entire food system to change consumer behavior, like those examined by the committee, can go a long way toward ending food insecurity.

 Sally Rockey, Ph.D.
Executive Director Emeritus

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Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research

The Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) builds public-private partnerships to fund bold research addressing big food and agriculture challenges. FFAR was established in the 2014 Farm Bill to increase public agriculture research investments, fill knowledge gaps and complement the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s research agenda. FFAR’s model matches federal funding from Congress with private funding, delivering a powerful return on taxpayer investment. Through collaboration and partnerships, FFAR advances actionable science benefiting farmers, consumers and the environment.

Connect: @FoundationFAR | @RockTalking