[OKRA] USDA has money available for Compost and Food Waste Reduction Pilot Projects

[Ellen Bussert]

[image: image.png]
For our communities interested in tackling food waste - this is a great
opportunity.




PRESS RELEASE
USDA Announces Cooperative Agreements for Compost and Food Waste Reduction
TOPICS
URBAN AGRICULTURE
<https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/getting-assistance/other-topics/urban-agriculture>
PUBLISH DATE
March 16, 2023
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   3. USDA Announces Cooperative Agreements for Compost and Food Waste
   Reduction

USDA Announces Cooperative Agreements for Compost and Food Waste Reduction

WASHINGTON, March 16, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
today announced the availability of up to $9.5 million for Compost and Food
Waste Reduction (CFWR) pilot projects for fiscal year 2023. The cooperative
agreements support projects that develop and test strategies for planning
and implementing municipal compost plans and food waste reduction plans.
They are part of USDA’s broader efforts to support urban agriculture.

USDA’s Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (OUAIP) – led
by USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service – will accept applications
on Grants.gov until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on June 15, 2023. Projects
should span two years with a start date of Dec. 1, 2023, and completion
date of Dec. 1, 2025.

“These cooperative agreements support communities in their efforts to
reduce and divert food waste from landfills,” NRCS Chief Terry Cosby said.
“These projects will empower communities to reduce waste and support
agricultural producers through increased access to compost to improve soil
health on their operations.”

Cooperative agreements support projects led by local governments or other
eligible entities that:

   - Generate compost;
   - Increase access to compost for agricultural producers;
   - Reduce reliance on and limit the use of fertilizer;
   - Improve soil quality;
   - Encourage waste management and permaculture business development;
   - Increase rainwater absorption;
   - Reduce municipal food waste; and
   - Divert food waste from landfills.


OUAIP will prioritize 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.
Additional details are available in the grants.gov notice
<https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=346901>.

This is the third year that OUAIP has offered this funding opportunity. For
example, last year, the Interior Alaska Food Waste Reduction and Education
Initiative in Fairbanks, Alaska, received funds to support a free backyard
composting program, distribution of educational materials, and various
workshops that appeal to compost beginners including students.

Meanwhile, the Moving Towards Zero Waste: Expanding Food Waste Diversion
and Composting project in Providence, Rhode Island, is subsidizing training
and supplies for backyard composting, develop a public education campaign
focused on the benefits of food waste diversion and that drives
participation in locally available food waste diversion services.

Webinar

A pre-recorded webinar will provide an overview of the cooperative
agreements’ purpose, project types, eligibility and basic requirements for
submitting applications. The webinar will be posted at farmers.gov/urban
<https://www.farmers.gov/your-business/urban-growers>.

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 grants are part of a broad USDA
investment in urban agriculture. Other efforts include:


   - The UAIP Competitive Grants Program, which announced $7.5 million in
   funding opportunities this year.
   - 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.
   - 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.
   - Providing technical and financial assistance through conservation
   programs offered by NRCS.
   - Organizing 17 Farm Service Agency urban county committees.
   - Investing nearly $133 million in grants through the Agricultural
   Marketing Service’s Local Agriculture Market Program (LAMP)
   <https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants/lamp> that develop,
   coordinate, and expand producer-to-consumer marketing, local and regional
   food markets, and local food enterprises.
   - Helping child nutrition program operators incorporate local foods
   through the Food and Nutrition Services Farm to School Program
   <https://www.fns.usda.gov/f2s/farm-to-school>.


CFWR is part of USDA’s broader efforts to advance equity, support local and
regional food systems and access to food, and encourage use of conservation
and climate-smart practices. For example, this year, USDA is investing up
to $70 million in Equity in Outreach Cooperative Agreements
<https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/about/partner-with-us/outreach-and-partnerships/equity-in-conservation-cooperative-agreements-2023>
to
support outreach to underserved producers and communities about
opportunities for natural resource conservation, climate-smart agriculture
and forestry. Additionally, USDA’s Food Systems Transformation Framework
<https://www.usda.gov/media/press-releases/2022/06/01/usda-announces-framework-shoring-food-supply-chain-and-transforming>
builds
a more resilient, fairer food supply chain with more and better market
options for consumers and producers while reducing carbon pollution; makes
nutritious food more accessible and affordable for consumers; emphasizes
equity by creating wealth that stays in small towns and underserved
communities.

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
<https://www.usda.gov/>.

#
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.
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