The issue of food waste has emerged as one of the most pressing environmental and social challenges of our time. The United States stands out for its staggering production of food waste, ranking among the top three countries globally. To confront this crisis, the federal government has established an ambitious goal—to reduce food waste by 50% by the year 2030, based on 2016 levels. This translates to an expected decrease to approximately 164 pounds of food waste per person each year. However, recent research published in the esteemed journal Nature Food by a team from the University of California, Davis, indicates that current state-level policies are failing to align with this critical objective.
Recent findings reveal a disheartening trend: instead of decreasing, per capita food waste has actually risen since 2016. First author Sarah Kakadellis, who is a postdoctoral researcher within the UC Davis Department of Food Science and Technology, expressed grave concern over the lack of progress. With only five years remaining until the ambitious 2030 target, Kakadellis argues that it is imperative to implement more comprehensive policies that can effectively tackle food waste across the nation.
The study meticulously examined the extent to which state-level policies correspond with the overarching federal targets for food waste reduction. In the United States, the responsibility for crafting policies regarding food waste lies primarily with individual states, leading to a patchwork of approaches that often miss the mark. Researchers discovered a pronounced emphasis on recycling methods for food waste, such as composting and anaerobic digestion, while far less attention is given to proactive strategies for prevention and rescue, which would include measures like donating food to food banks or repurposing excess food for animal feed. The findings also highlighted a notable shift from how the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency defines food waste, having revised its definition in 2021 to exclude recycling, thus underscoring various ethical and environmental dimensions.
Kakadellis drew attention to the paradox of food waste in America, where extensive portions of the population are grappling with food insecurity even as a staggering one-third of the food produced ends up wasted. "Instead of merely recycling our excess food, we should actively redirect as much of it as possible to communities in need," she stated. While efforts like recycling and composting do play a role in mitigating the impact of food waste, they are insufficient solutions on their own. The environmental consequences of food production are palpable; the resources wasted in growing food—including energy, water, and fertilizers—cannot be overlooked. Furthermore, food waste contributes a significant percentage, estimated between 8% to 10%, of global greenhouse gas emissions.
To further investigate the potential impact of various state policies on food waste reduction, the research team assessed four specific areas: prevention (including improvements in date labeling), rescue (involving liability protection and tax incentives), repurposing (targeting animal feed), and recycling (examining organic waste bans and recycling laws). Among these, recycling policies were found to offer the most substantial potential for diversion of food waste. However, researchers cautioned that, even when considering recycling efforts, many states still fell short of the federal waste reduction goal. Only California, Vermont, and Arizona were projected to meet the target of reducing waste to 164 pounds per person annually.
Under the revised definition from the EPA, which excludes recycling, states may only be able to divert food waste in the range of 11 to 30 pounds per person. For instance, Washington stands out for its potential to divert nearly one-third of its food waste, while California closely follows, with a potential diversion of 26%. Alarmingly, despite falling short in terms of overall diversion potential, Arkansas emerged as the state closest to achieving the federal target for food waste generation. According to Kakadellis, when examining diversion potential, one must not forget to consider the current levels of food waste generation in each state.
States such as Arizona showcase a compelling case; while they possess the highest potential for diverting food waste based on existing policies, they also rank among the highest generators of food waste nationally. Conversely, Arkansas, which generates significantly less food waste than many other states, finds itself near the national goal, thus limiting opportunities for further reductions. The research provides a nuanced understanding of the inequities in food waste generation and diversion potential across the United States.
Kakadellis noted that the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic may also have contributed to the recent uptick in food waste. Initially, as people adapted to cooking and planning meals at home during lockdowns, food waste saw a decline. However, as life began to return to “normal,” many individuals reverted to prior habits, leading to increased waste levels. “When state initiatives are disproportionately focused on the recycling of food waste, it’s easy for policymakers and the public to mistakenly believe we are effectively addressing the food waste crisis. Recycling is an important element of the strategy, but it should not be the primary focus of our efforts.”
In her view, it is essential for state policies to prioritize food waste prevention and rescue as the principal strategies to address this issue. The research underscores the need for comprehensive approaches that balance recycling with proactive measures to prevent and redirect food waste before it even occurs. The complexities involved emphasize the importance of a multi-faceted strategy in addressing food waste, recognizing the intertwined social, environmental, and economic implications.
In conclusion, researchers, including co-authors Selina Mao and Asch Harwood from ReFED, call for an urgent re-evaluation of local, state, and federal policies to pivot towards a more integrated approach to food waste management. The research received vital funding from both the National Science Foundation and the United States Department of Agriculture, highlighting its importance to national policies. As the clock ticks towards 2030, the time for action is now, as the nation grapples with an unrealized potential to combat one of the most significant preventable crises of our era.
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