The Rockefeller Foundation, USDA, and EPA to Lead Creation of National Resource Center for Action Against Food Waste

NEW YORK, Dec. 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, The Rockefeller Foundation announced its collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and a partnership of 10 private sector and non-profit organizations to create "Further With Food: Center for Food Loss and Waste Solutions," an online hub for the exchange of information and solutions that can help realize the national goal of cutting food waste in half by 2030.

Further With Food (furtherwithfood.org) will be the definitive online destination for stakeholders – such as businesses, government entities, investors, NGOs, academics, and individuals – seeking to learn more about their role in meeting the national food waste reduction target, announced by USDA and EPA in September, 2015. In addition to stimulating widespread adoption of proven solutions, Further With Food will enable coordination among stakeholders and will reduce duplication of efforts.

"Because food waste is one of the most pressing – and solvable – challenges of our time, we launched our $130 million YieldWise initiative to prove that cutting it in half is within reach," said Judith Rodin, president, The Rockefeller Foundation. "Achieving our shared goals depends on harnessing the tremendous energy and innovation bubbling up across the country. Further With Food will be a place to compare notes on what's working, to build on new ideas, and to scale the most effective solutions so that, together, we can build a more resilient and productive food system."

The U.S. spends more than $162 billion growing, processing, and transporting food that is never eaten, costing the average family of four $1,500 every year. In the process, fresh water, energy, land, labor, and money are invested into food that's never sold and meals that are never served, and leading to greenhouse gas emissions as food rots in landfills. With the announcement of Further With Food, The Rockefeller Foundation, USDA, EPA, and their partners are seeking to uncover and share proven solutions, as well as to ensure efforts are streamlined and effective.

"Curbing the enormous amount of food loss and waste in this country would help put food on the table for people in need, conserve natural resources, and make space in families' food budgets for healthier choices," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "The good news is that partners across the country are joining the effort to reduce food loss and waste. As these efforts expand, there is a need for a common place for these diverse groups to share and learn from one another. Thanks to the leadership of this partnership, Further With Food is a timely solution that will provide the country with a single portal to share information and stimulate ideas for new projects." 

When the Further With Food website launches in January, 2017, it will feature content on best practices for preventing, recovering and recycling food loss and waste; educational materials; research results; and information on existing government, business, and community initiatives.

"This public-private partnership demonstrates leadership and a commitment to find solutions to reduce food loss and waste, such as those captured in the Call to Action, launched by EPA. By consolidating information, tools and research, the Further With Food platform will help empower individuals, businesses, educational institutions, and other organizations looking to keep food in our communities and out of landfills," said EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy.

The participants in the Further With Food collaboration include The Rockefeller Foundation and a public-private partnership composed of USDA, EPA, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy, Feeding America, the Food Marketing Institute, the Grocery Manufacturers Association, the National Consumers League, Natural Resources Defense Council, the National Restaurant Association, the World Resources Institute, and the World Wildlife Fund. Keystone Policy Center provided technical assistance to the coalition.

Contact

Carey Meyers ([email protected])

About The Rockefeller Foundation

The Rockefeller Foundation's mission—unchanged since 1913—is to promote the well-being of humanity throughout the world. Today, we pursue this mission through dual goals: advancing inclusive economies that expand opportunities for more broadly shared prosperity, and building resilience by helping people, communities and institutions prepare for, withstand, and emerge stronger from acute shocks and chronic stresses. To achieve these goals, we work at the intersection of four focus areas—advance health, revalue ecosystems, secure livelihoods, and transform cities—to address the root causes of emerging challenges and create systemic change. Together with partners and grantees, The Rockefeller Foundation strives to catalyze and scale transformative innovations, create unlikely partnerships that span sectors, and take risks others cannot. For more information, please visit www.rockefellerfoundation.org.

SOURCE The Rockefeller Foundation

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