Food waste reduction measures are included in the Farm Bill, the Agriculture Improvement of Act of 2018. It was approved Dec. 11 on a vote of 87-13 in the Senate and Dec. 12 on a vote of 368-47 in the House, sending the bill to the President, who is expected to sign it.
An analysis of the bill by the Center for Health Law and Policy Innovation of Harvard Law School (CHLPI) notes that the bill provides funding for:
- development of local composting and food waste reduction efforts;
- better promotion and legal protection for those donating food and agricultural commodities;
- creation of a Food Loss and Waste Reduction Liaison at USDA;
- establishes a Milk Donation Program;
- establishes the Local Agriculture Market Program (LAMP), which combines the Farmers’ Market and Local Food Promotion Program (FMLFPP) with the Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) program;
- amends the Specialty Crop Research Initiative to extend storage life of specialty crops;
- and addresses production of biogas from food and agricultural waste.