CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – Iowa Waste Reduction Center (IWRC) staff, Joe Bolick, Director, Jennifer Trent, Program Manager, and University of Northern Iowa’s (UNI) Andrew Morse, Chief of Staff, are acknowledged for the input and feedback they contributed to the, “Opportunities to Reduce Food Waste in the 2023 Farm Bill” report released by Harvard Law School Food Law and Policy Clinic (FLPC) in collaboration with ReFED, NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) and World Wildlife Fund.

Americans waste a third of the food produced or imported in the United States every year and as a result, potential meals for families experiencing hunger rot in unharvested fields and landfills. The report details how Congress can better prioritize food waste reduction and makes new recommendations addressing food waste gaps in the supply chain and where federal action can spur food waste awareness.  

“We are truly grateful for the opportunity to contribute to this report and the relationship we have with the FLPC” said Jennifer Trent who serves as the program coordinator for food waste reduction efforts at the IWRC.

The report contains several references to the National Food Waste Reduction Act, which was developed in partnership with UNI, IWRC and Congresswoman Axne’s (Rep.-IA) office and introduced by Representative Axne in 2021. This legislation earned the attention of the FLPC when it received bicameral Congressional attention and was built into Representative Pingree’s (Rep.-ME) comprehensive Food Recovery Act for potential inclusion in the 2023 Farm Bill. 

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About Iowa Waste Reduction Center. The IWRC has been providing environmental services, including technical assistance and industry training, as well as research and development, for over 30 years. The IWRC is a part of the University of Northern Iowa's Business and Community Services which builds a better Iowa through hands‐on technical assistance for economic and business development, entrepreneurship, environmental improvement and enhanced sustainability. For more information, visit iwrc.uni.edu.