There is no bigger opportunity for the food industry to simultaneously address hunger in America and our environmental footprint than by reducing the amount of food sent to landfills by diverting food to food banks and food waste to beneficial alternatives like compost or energy.
We know that too many Americans, especially children, struggle with food insecurity while much of the food produced in the U.S. goes to waste.
The challenge is big, to be sure, but it is also achievable through cooperation and collaboration along the value chain.
That’s why the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA), the Food Marketing Institute (FMI), and the National Restaurant Association teamed up to create the Food Waste Reduction Alliance. This cross-industry initiative brings together experts from nearly 30 leading companies to find innovative solutions to reducing the generation of food waste, increasing food donation, and recycling unavoidable food waste in the U.S.
By sharing best practices, sponsoring new research into the sources and caused of food waste in America, and engaging with stakeholders around the country, the FWRA is tackling food waste not just as one company or one industry, but as a large section of the food value chain.
Creative, cross-industry or cross-stakeholder efforts are the key to reducing food waste in the U.S.
By talking to our partners up and down the value chain, companies, organizations, and other stakeholders, can make major strides to reducing food waste and feeding those in need. This challenge will not be solved overnight and there is no one, perfect solution.
However, by working together we can move everyone forward faster to reach our goals.
Meghan Stasz is Senior Director of Sustainability with the Grocery Manufacturers Association.