US food waste reduction goal

On September 16, 2015,

The government has announced the United States' first ever national food waste reduction goal!!!! *throws confetti* They have called for a 50% reduction of food wastage by 2030, so as to improve food security and conserve the nation's resources. 

It is known that the US enjoys an abundance of food, but this only results in huge amounts of wastage. Agriculture secretary Tom Vilsack has mentioned that an average family of 4 leaves more than two million calories of food uneaten each year, which is equivalent to approximately $1500. Reductions in food losses in developed areas can decrease the number of undernourished people in developing regions by up to 63 million. (FAO, summarized by Yosuke Munesue)

In the past, there have been successful campaigns to reduce food wastage, such as the US Food Waste Challenge. For this food reduction goals, there will be many partnerships with various organizations, the private and local sector, the governments and many more. This is a major opporutnity for US to work towards cutting down on food wastage. As EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy wisely says, "Let's feed people, not landfills." I look forward to seeing the progress in US' new initiatives. :)

References:
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. (2015) USDA and EPA Join with Private Sector, Charitable Organizations to Set Nation's First Food Waste Reduction Goals [Online] September 2015 Available from: http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdamediafb?contentid=2015/09/0257.xml&printable=true&contentidonly=true [Accessed: 20/9/2015]

YOSUKE MUNESUE. (2015) The effects of reducing food losses and food waste on global food insecurity, natural resources, and greenhouse gas emissions [Online] 17 (1). Available from: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10018-014-0083-0 [Accessed: 20/9/2015]