USDA Invests $9.4 Million in Compost and Food Waste Reduction Projects

GAINESVILLE, FL, Feb. 2, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing more than $9.4 million in 45 cooperative agreements that support innovative, scalable waste management plans to reduce and divert food waste from landfills. The Compost and Food Waste Reduction (CFWR) cooperative agreements, which are funded by the American Rescue Plan Act, are part of USDA’s broad support for urban agriculture through its Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (OUAIP). The projects will be implemented between 2023 and 2025.    

“These Compost and Food Waste Reduction projects play important roles in building resilient, local food systems, including strong food recovery networks and food waste reduction solutions that benefit farmers and communities,” said Deborah Tannenbaum, State Executive Director for FSA in Florida. “With an estimated 4% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions attributable to uneaten food, local strategies and tools like these are important climate solutions.” 

USDA prioritized projects that anticipate or demonstrate economic benefits, incorporate plans to make compost easily accessible to farmers, including community gardeners, integrate other food waste strategies, including food recovery efforts and collaborate with multiple partners.  

Recipients include projects in 27 states and one territory. Recipients in Florida include: 

• City of Deerfield Beach Composting and Food Waste Reduction Pilot Program, City of Deerfield Beach, FL. The project will explore the effectiveness and viability of a municipal organics collection and compost giveback program in Deerfield Beach while engaging underprivileged communities in food security, gardening and composting.

•  Composting and Food Waste Reduction (CFWR) Pilot Project, County of Hernando, FL. The project will produce compost to aid local soils in the retention of moisture and nutrients, make the compost available to local agricultural producers, and simultaneously reduce the amount of material landfilled annually.

• Miami-Dade County 2022 Composting and Food Waste Reduction (CFWR) Pilot Program, Miami-Dade County, FL. This pilot project will jump start a circular economy for food waste that aims to accelerate and scale the services of three small locally owned composting companies. It will expand existing service capacity by 50% over one year, obtain a renewable 18-month pilot project permit, and develop a commercially viable compost product that can be used by MDC’s Parks, Recreation, and Open Spaces Department to create a circular economy for food waste and compost in MDC that will reduce landfill food waste and replace chemical fertilizer.

• Orange County Public Schools: Food Recovery and Compost Pilot, School Board of Orange County, FL. The project will implement a food recovery and food compost program to reduce landfill waste by 40% through food recovery and a food composting program to illustrate the need for these programs and how these programs can be adopted district-wide following a two-year food recovery and composting program.

For a complete list of cooperative agreement recipients and project summaries, visit usda.gov/urban. These new agreements build on USDA’s $3 million investment in 37 agreements in 2020 and 2021. 

More Information 

OUAIP was established through the 2018 Farm Bill. It is led by NRCS and works in partnership with numerous USDA agencies that support urban agriculture and innovative production. The CFWR cooperative agreements are part of a broad USDA investment in urban agriculture. Other efforts include:  

• Creating and managing a Federal Advisory Committee for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production to advise the Secretary on the development of policies and outreach relating to urban agriculture. The next meeting is Feb. 23, 2023. 
• Reopening the People’s Garden Initiative. People’s Gardens across the country grow fresh, healthy food and support resilient, local food systems; teach people how to garden using sustainable practices; and nurture habitat for pollinators and wildlife and greenspace for neighbors.  
• Grants that target areas of food access, education, business and start-up costs for new farmers, and policy development related to zoning and other urban production needs. In late January, USDA announced the availability of $7.5 million for grants. 
• Providing technical and financial assistance through conservation programs offered by USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).  
• Organizing 17 FSA urban county committees.  

Today’s announcement supports the Biden-Harris Administration’s broader work to strengthen critical supply chains as directed by Executive Order 14017 America's Supply Chains.  

Learn more at usda.gov/urban. For additional resources available to producers, download our Urban Agriculture at a Glance brochure or visit farmers.gov/urban.   

USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. Under the Biden-Harris administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit usda.gov.