Media Advisory: Secretary Vilsack to Deliver Remarks at Feeding America National Food Rescue Summit

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UPDATED LOCATION: Secretary Vilsack to Deliver Remarks at Feeding America National Food Rescue Summit

 

Washington, D.C., Sept. 26, 2016 — On Tues., Sept. 27, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will deliver keynote remarks on food waste at the National Food Rescue Summit. The National Food Rescue Summit, hosted by Feeding America, is a two day conference focused on finding opportunities and solutions for food rescue.

 

Despite the fact that the United States enjoys the most abundant food supply on the planet, millions of Americans go hungry while too much food goes to waste. As 17.4 million American households do not have enough food to eat, 30 percent of food produced—approximately 133 billion pounds worth about $161 billion—goes to waste at the retail or consumer level each year. Not only is food loss fiscally and environmentally irresponsible, but experts project reducing it by just 15 percent could provide enough food to feed more than 25 million Americans every year, helping over half of hungry Americans.

 

Over the last eight years, USDA has addressed this problem with the Environmental Protection Agency to launch the U.S. Food Waste Challenge. In an effort to work toward innovative solutions that will feed more people and mitigate the effects of waste on the environment, the program has partnered with 4,000 organizations from across the food chain--producers, retailers, industry and nonprofits. In September 2015, the United States announced the first-ever national goal to cut food loss and waste in half by 2030, encouraging the global community to do the same. USDA stands with this goal and is committed to reducing food waste. During his remarks, Vilsack will discuss initiatives undertaken at USDA that are making it easier for food companies to donate unsold food to food banks, without compromising food safety. 

 

Tuesday, September 27, 2016 

 

WHAT:

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to deliver keynote remarks on fighting hunger and reducing food waste at the Feeding America Conference.

 

WHEN:

Tuesday, September, 27, 2016

1:30 p.m. EDT 

 

WHERE (Updated):

Georgetown University Conference Center

3800 Reservois Rd NW

Washington, D.C. 20007

 

 

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