The U.S. Administration announced a draft to reduce national food waste on Dec 2nd. The initiative will see the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) collaborating towards this goal.

In a press release by the USDA, it was revealed that the department has long aimed to enhance the agriculture sector and increase its capacity to address global food security and manage climate change consequences. The National Strategy for Reducing Food Loss and Waste and Recycling Organics strategy outlines steps each department will undertake to mitigate the environmental impact of wasted food. Key objectives include supporting policies that prevent food loss, increasing organic waste recycling rates, and reducing food loss nationwide.

According to the strategy document released by the USDA, an average family of four in the United States spends $1,500 annually on uneaten food. This contributes to organic waste, which constitutes nearly 100 million tons of U.S. municipal waste; 66 million tons of this is directly from food waste.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack stated, "Food loss and waste poses a real challenge to agriculture, food and the climate. In order to tackle this problem, build a resilient food system, and mitigate climate impacts, we must explore and implement innovative solutions."

The press release also indicated that the USDA will invest $30 million into Composting and Food Waste Reduction Cooperative Agreements. These funds will be used for developing new food packing methods and extending existing partnerships with National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) food system programs. Extending these partnerships is considered crucial for research development aimed at reducing food loss and preventing waste. Further research into packing technology is expected to extend shelf lives at stores thereby reducing food loss rates.