USDA Projects

The IWRC has a great track record of being awarded USDA grants through Rural Development since 2013. These grant funded projects allow the IWRC to provide assistance to prevent and reduce organic waste in small rural communities across the Midwest. Some of our great projects include compost training, helping to implement a donation program at farmers markets, bringing rural communities together to forge partnerships that increase diversion opportunities, conducting waste sorts and implementing diversion strategies at K-12 schools, and implementation of tracking systems to effectively measure and analyze food waste to facilitate actionable solutions. 

Past USDA Projects

Community Gardens and Farmers Market Compost and Donation Project

Colorful illustration of leek, pepper, cucumber, corn and peas.

Three Iowa communities made a BIG IMPACT by collecting leftover edible foods from vendors at the end of each farmers market and transporting them to a local food pantry that fed that community’s food insecure. View free tutorials and training guides to help your community!

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Regional Partnership for Food Waste Solutions

two hands hold stylized apple core with up and down arrows to indicate recycling

The IWRC provided on-site assistance and training for key stakeholders in Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota to decrease the amount of food waste discarded in landfills. Download the training guides to see what you can do to fight food waste in your region.

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