New Opportunities for Technological Innovation, Mitigation, and Education To Overcome Waste Act or the NO TIME TO Waste Act
This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to reduce U.S. food loss and waste (FLW) through federal coordination, grants, and education.
Under the bill, food loss means the food that does not reach a consumer as a result of an issue in the production, storage, processing, or distribution phase. Food waste means that food intended for human consumption is unconsumed for any reason at the retail or consumption phase.
The bill requires USDA to collaborate with the Food and Drug Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency to carry out a December, 17, 2020, agreement to coordinate federal efforts to cut FLW.
Further, USDA must establish an Office of Food Loss and Waste to support the existing role of the Food Loss and Waste Liaison. The office must also, among other things, establish
The Office of Food Loss and Waste must also initiate a national FLW education and public awareness campaign.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1395 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1395
To authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out activities to
reduce food loss and waste, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
April 9, 2025
Mr. Coons (for himself and Mr. Moran) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture,
Nutrition, and Forestry
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out activities to
reduce food loss and waste, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``New Opportunities for Technological
Innovation, Mitigation, and Education To Overcome Waste Act'' or the
``NO TIME TO Waste Act);''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
(2) Commissioner.--The term ``Commissioner'' means the
Commissioner of Food and Drugs.
(3) Food.--The term ``food'' means any raw, cooked,
processed, or prepared substance, ice, beverage, or ingredient
used or intended for use in whole or in part for human
consumption.
(4) Food loss.--The term ``food loss'' means, with respect
to food, that the food does not reach a consumer as a result of
an issue in the production, storage, processing, or
distribution phase.
(5) Food recovery.--The term ``food recovery'' means the
collection of wholesome food that would otherwise go to waste
and the redistribution of that food to feed people.
(6) Food spoilage.--The term ``food spoilage'' means a
process or change that renders a food product undesirable or
unacceptable for human consumption.
(7) Food waste.--The term ``food waste'' means, with
respect to food, that the food is intended for human
consumption but is unconsumed by humans for any reason at the
retail or consumption phase.
(8) Liaison.--The term ``Liaison'' means the Food Loss and
Waste Reduction Liaison established under section 224 of the
Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C.
6924).
(9) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Agriculture.
(10) Upcycled food product.--The term ``upcycled food
product'' means a product that--
(A) is created from surplus food, unmarketable
food, or edible or inedible food byproducts; and
(B) is made with ingredients that--
(i) otherwise would not have gone to human
consumption;
(ii) are sourced and produced using supply
chains for which upstream data can be verified
and validated for accuracy; and
(iii) have a positive impact on the
environment.
SEC. 3. OFFICE OF FOOD LOSS AND WASTE.
(a) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish in the Department
of Agriculture an Office of Food Loss and Waste (referred to in this
section as the ``Office'').
(b) Responsibilities.--The Office shall be responsible for--
(1) supporting the role and responsibilities of the
Liaison;
(2) comprehensive research on methods to quantify on-farm
food loss and supply chain food loss;
(3) research on new technologies to reduce food loss and
food waste;
(4) quantifying the impact of food waste reduction policies
on greenhouse gas emissions reductions;
(5) submitting to Congress and making publicly available
reports describing the progress of the United States in
advancing toward or achieving the goal of reducing food loss
and food waste by 50 percent, compared to 2016 levels, by 2030;
(6) publishing reports to Congress and to the public for
the purpose of engaging with educational campaigns relating to
food loss and food waste;
(7) carrying out the grant program under subsection (d);
(8) contributing to an assessment relating to how food loss
and food waste affects climate change, food and nutrition
security, and public health;
(9) creating and distributing tools, resources, and
publications--
(A) to support efforts and measures to reduce and
prevent food loss and food waste; and
(B) to contribute to increased education relating
to food loss and food waste for private entities,
nonprofit and community-based organizations, and
individuals;
(10) tracking and assessing programs across Federal
agencies to advance research relating to food loss and food
waste;
(11) analyzing food loss and food waste policy data and
establishing and disseminating model policies for municipal,
local, State, territorial, and Tribal governments that are
proven to reduce food loss or food waste;
(12) recommending new regulations, investments, or policies
to the Liaison and the Secretary to address new identified gaps
on preventing and reducing food loss and food waste; and
(13) carrying out such other activities as the Secretary or
the Liaison determine to be appropriate.
(c) Partnerships.--In carrying out the responsibilities described
in subsection (b), the Secretary, in consultation with other Federal
agencies, the Liaison, and the Office, shall establish partnerships
with regional partner institutions to plan, conduct, and arrange for
public research, data, education, and recommendations relating to food
loss and food waste prevention and reduction and food recovery issues
locally, regionally, and nationally.
(d) Grant Program.--
(1) In general.--The Office shall establish a grant program
to support collecting data on existing State and local food
loss and food waste policies.
(2) Eligibility.--An entity eligible to receive a grant
under paragraph (1) is--
(A) a municipal, local, State, or Tribal
government;
(B) a partnership of 1 or more governments
described in subparagraph (A) and 1 or more nonprofit
organizations; or
(C) a partnership of 2 or more--
(i) governments described in subparagraph
(A); or
(ii) nonprofit organizations.
(3) Collaboration.--An entity that receives a grant under
paragraph (1) may collaborate with 1 or more nonprofit,
private, or other organizations in carrying out activities
using the grant funds.
(4) Project requirements.--A data collection project
carried out using a grant under paragraph (1) shall--
(A) be carried out for not longer than 3 years; and
(B) include the provision of data collected under
the project to the Office.
(5) Data requirements.--Data collected under a project
carried out using a grant under paragraph (1) shall provide
rigorous evidence of the impact of food loss and food waste
policies, which may include--
(A) estimates of the quantity of the reduction of
food loss and food waste after the implementation of a
policy;
(B) where relevant, estimates of the quantity of
food loss and food waste in a similar community that is
not subject to the policy; and
(C) the economic benefits and impacts realized from
food that is recovered, upcycled, reused, or recycled.
(6) Matching requirement.--An entity that receives a grant
under paragraph (1) shall provide funds, in-kind contributions,
or a combination of both from sources other than funds provided
through the grant in an amount equal to not less than 10
percent of the amount of the grant, which may include private
funding or other sources of revenue, as determined by the
Secretary.
(7) Model policies.--After the Office receives the data
collected under the grant program under this paragraph, the
Office shall analyze the data and establish model policies for
municipal, local, State, and Tribal governments that are proven
to reduce food waste.
(e) Authorizations of Appropriations.--
(1) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated to
the Office $1,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through
2030.
(2) Grant program.--
(A) In general.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out the grant program under
subsection (d) $2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026
through 2030.
(B) Administrative costs.--Of the amount
appropriated under subparagraph (A), the Secretary may
retain not more than 4 percent to pay administrative
costs incurred by the Secretary in carrying out
subsection (d).
SEC. 4. IMPROVING COORDINATION TO PREVENT AND REDUCE FOOD LOSS AND
WASTE.
(a) Regional Coordinators.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish in the
Department of Agriculture regional coordinators.
(2) Responsibilities.--The regional coordinators
established under paragraph (1) shall be responsible for--
(A) partnering with food producers, food
processors, distributors, and food recovery
organizations and acting as regional points of contact
to facilitate real-time food recovery;
(B) understanding and developing the capacity
needed for ongoing food recovery;
(C) providing technical support to food recovery
organizations to improve the ability of the food
recovery organizations to pick up surplus food, process
that food, and deliver that food to populations or
communities; and
(D) engaging with Department of Agriculture
regional food business centers to identify
opportunities for synergy and alignment with those
centers.
(3) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this
subsection $1,000,000.
(b) Food Recovery and Distribution Infrastructure Support and
Coordination Block Grants.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary, in coordination with the
Office of Food Loss and Waste established under section 3,
shall establish as part of the program under section 203D(d) of
the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 (7 U.S.C. 7507(d)) a
program to award annual block grants to States and Indian
Tribes to carry out projects to develop and support food
recovery infrastructure and innovative food distribution
models.
(2) Distribution.--A State shall distribute a block grant
received under paragraph (1) to applicable food recovery
organizations and local governments to address any gaps in food
recovery infrastructure, including--
(A) storage and capacity of processing
infrastructure equipment and facilities;
(B) temperature-controlled food distribution
infrastructure;
(C) technological solutions supporting food
recovery, such as real-time updates to connect
organizations that have surplus food with organizations
that distribute surplus food; and
(D) support of salaries, wages, and benefits for
food recovery organizations.
(3) Coordination.--In establishing the program under
paragraph (1), the Secretary shall coordinate with other
Department of Agriculture agencies and programs, including--
(A) the Agricultural Marketing Service;
(B) the Emergency Food Assistance Program Reach and
Resiliency Grants; and
(C) such other agencies and programs as the
Secretary determines to be appropriate.
(4) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $2,000,000 for
each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030.
SEC. 5. STRENGTHENING GOVERNMENT APPROACH TO FOOD LOSS AND WASTE.
(a) Interagency Collaboration on Food Loss and Waste.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary, in collaboration with the
Administrator and the Commissioner, shall collaborate to carry
out the agreement relative to cooperation and coordination on
food loss and waste signed by those officials on December 17,
2020.
(2) Reports.--Every year, the Secretary, acting through the
Liaison and the Office of Food Loss and Waste established under
section 3, in consultation with the Administrator and the
Commissioner, shall submit to Congress and make publicly
available a report describing the progress of the Secretary in
carrying out the agreement described in paragraph (1).
(3) Interagency engagement.--Pursuant to paragraph (1), the
Secretary, the Administrator, and the Commissioner shall engage
with the heads of other Federal departments and agencies,
including the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Education,
the Secretary of Transportation, the Secretary of Homeland
Security, the Administrator of General Services, and such other
Federal departments and agencies as the Secretary, the
Administrator, and the Commissioner determine to be
appropriate, to expand work on food loss and food waste.
(4) Consultation.--
(A) In general.--The Secretary shall consult with,
and receive advice from, representatives described in
subparagraph (B) relating to--
(i) programming and policy issues relating
to understanding existing and future challenges
relating to food loss and food waste;
(ii) acquiring the latest data relating to
food loss and food waste;
(iii) the latest innovative solutions
relating to food loss and food waste from
leading experts; and
(iv) sharing and developing procurement
best practices that will assist the heads of
Federal departments and agencies described in
paragraph (3) in--
(I) preventing food loss and waste;
(II) reducing food loss and food
waste;
(III) leading by example in
addressing issues relating to food loss
and food waste; and
(IV) engaging contractors in
reducing food loss and food waste in
the operations of the contractors.
(B) Representatives.--The representatives referred
to in subparagraph (A) are representatives of--
(i) the private sector;
(ii) agricultural producers;
(iii) food industry members, such as food
safety trainers, food aggregators and
processors, food safety professionals,
retailers, and food service entities;
(iv) nonprofit organizations;
(v) food recovery organizations of varying
sizes; and
(vi) any other sector, as determined by the
Secretary.
(C) Representation of smaller producers and food
insecure communities.--In consulting and receiving
advice under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall
ensure participation by smaller producers and
organizations from communities most impacted by food
and nutrition insecurity and food loss and food waste
issues.
(D) Forms of consultation.--The Secretary may
consult and receive advice under subparagraph (A)
through--
(i) a meeting through which input is
sought, such as a workshop, town hall meeting,
or listening session;
(ii) a meeting described in clause (i) with
an existing group formed by representatives
described in subparagraph (B); and
(iii) such other means as the Secretary
determines to be appropriate.
(E) Interagency meetings.--The Secretary shall host
quarterly meetings with the Administrator, the
Commissioner, and the heads of other Federal agencies
for the purpose of sharing communications relating to
consultation and advice received under subparagraph (A)
with those officials regularly.
(F) FACA exemption.--Chapter 10 of title 5, United
States Code (commonly referred to as the ``Federal
Advisory Committee Act''), shall not apply to any group
formed for purposes of consultation or providing advice
under this paragraph.
(5) Continuation of effect.--Nothing in the subsection
shall be affected by the expiration of the agreement described
in paragraph (1).
(6) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this
subsection $1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through
2030.
(b) Federal Contractors.--Section 4 of the Federal Food Donation
Act of 2008 (42 U.S.C. 1792) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by
striking ``180 days'' and all that follows through
``the Federal'' and inserting ``180 days after the date
of enactment of the New Opportunities for Technological
Innovation, Mitigation, and Education To Overcome Waste
Act, the Federal'';
(B) in paragraph (1)--
(i) by striking ``encourages'' and
inserting ``requires''; and
(ii) by striking ``and'' after the
semicolon;
(C) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the
end and inserting ``; and''; and
(D) by adding at the end the following:
``(3) requires the contractor to submit to the applicable
executive agency a report describing--
``(A) efforts and actions to prevent and reduce
food loss and food waste (as those terms are defined in
section 2 of the New Opportunities for Technological
Innovation, Mitigation, and Education To Overcome Waste
Act);
``(B) food waste (as so defined) through activities
carried out under the contract; and
``(C) food donated as described in paragraph
(1).''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(c) Reports to Congress.--Every 2 years, each executive agency
shall submit to Congress reports describing the matters reported to the
executive agency under subsection (a)(3).''.
(c) Strengthening Food Loss and Waste Research at the Department of
Agriculture.--
(1) Critical agriculture research and extension.--In
awarding grants under the critical agriculture research and
extension crosscutting program area priority established by the
Secretary under subsection (b) of the Competitive, Special, and
Facilities Research Grant Act (7 U.S.C. 3157(b)), the Secretary
shall give priority to grants to address food loss and food
waste.
(2) Inter-disciplinary engagement in animal systems.--In
awarding grants under the inter-disciplinary engagement in
animal systems crosscutting program area priority established
by the Secretary under subsection (b) of the Competitive,
Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act (7 U.S.C. 3157(b)),
the Secretary shall give priority to grants to address food
loss and food waste.
(3) Animal nutrition, growth, and lactation.--In awarding
grants under the animal nutrition, growth, and lactation
emphasis area program established by the Secretary under
subsection (b) of the Competitive, Special, and Facilities
Research Grant Act (7 U.S.C. 3157(b)), the Secretary shall give
priority to grants--
(A) to reduce losses due to production
inefficiencies, including on-farm milk loss; and
(B) to use wholesome uneaten food and food
processing byproducts from the human food system as
feed ingredients.
SEC. 6. COMPOSTING AND FOOD WASTE REDUCTION PROGRAM.
Section 222(d)(2) of the Department of Agriculture Reorganization
Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6923(d)(2)) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``local or municipal
governments'' and inserting ``State, local, municipal, or
Tribal governments'';
(2) in subparagraph (C), by adding at the end the
following:
``(iv) Guidance.--The Secretary shall
publish guidance for applying for pilot
projects under this paragraph for applicants
that lack resources to obtain technical
assistance in preparing an application to
assist those applicants in preparing an
application, particularly to carry out a pilot
project for the reduction of food loss and food
waste (as those terms are defined in section 2
of the New Opportunities for Technological
Innovation, Mitigation, and Education To
Overcome Waste Act) through means other than
composting.
``(v) Period for submission of
applications.--The Secretary shall accept
submissions of applications for pilot projects
under this paragraph for a duration sufficient
to ensure that smaller and rural communities
are able to submit applications, as determined
by the Secretary.''; and
(3) in subparagraph (D), by inserting ``(which may include
private funding or other sources of revenue, as determined by
the Secretary)'' after ``funds provided through the grant''.
SEC. 7. PROMOTING THE FORMATION OF PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS ON FOOD
LOSS AND WASTE.
(a) In General.--The Secretary, acting through the Office of Food
Loss and Waste established under section 3, in collaboration with the
Administrator, shall establish a program to award grants to eligible
governments described in subsection (b) to incentivize the
establishment of public-private partnerships that commit to reducing
food loss and food waste in accordance with the goal of the Secretary
and the Administrator to reduce food loss and food waste by 50 percent
by 2030.
(b) Eligible Governments.--A entity eligible to receive a grant
under subsection (a) is a State, municipal, local, or Tribal
government.
(c) Partnerships.--An eligible government described in subsection
(b) that receives a grant under subsection (a) shall use the grant to
establish a partnership with the following entities:
(1) 1 or more nonprofit organizations.
(2) 1 or more private entities from any of the following
sectors:
(A) Grocery and specialty food.
(B) Hospitality.
(C) Restaurants.
(D) Supercenters.
(E) Hospitals.
(F) Nursing homes.
(G) Adult care facilities.
(H) Any other sector that the Secretary determines
to be appropriate.
(d) Requirements.--A partnership established under subsection (c)
shall--
(1) commit to reducing food loss and food waste in
accordance with the goal described in subsection (a);
(2) provide--
(A) a framework for cooperative action relating to
food loss and food waste;
(B) a forum for leadership and the sharing of
information on best practices relating to food loss and
food waste; and
(C) a list of the highest priorities on issues
relating to food loss and food waste;
(3) establish a methodology for measurement of reductions
in food loss and food waste, with the support of a technical
team of individuals from 1 or more organizations in the
partnership;
(4) collect data and prepare reports for the purposes of--
(A) establishing a baseline of food loss and food
waste appropriate for the scope of the collaboration
for which the grant was awarded;
(B) monitoring progress in reducing food loss and
food waste;
(C) identifying particular areas relating to food
loss and food waste that need attention; and
(D) highlighting successes in reducing food loss
and food waste that can be replicated;
(5) establish 1 or more working groups to facilitate
dialogue and dissemination of insights and best practices
relating to food loss and food waste; and
(6) make publicly available an annual report describing the
activities of the partnership.
(e) Matching Requirement.--An eligible government described in
subsection (b) that receives a grant under subsection (a) shall provide
funds, in-kind contributions, or a combination of both from sources
other than funds provided through the grant in an amount equal to not
less than 50 percent of the amount of the grant, which may include
private funding or other sources of revenue, as determined by the
Secretary.
(f) Coordination.--A partnership established under subsection (c)
shall coordinate with regional coordinators established under section
4(a), as the partnership determines to be appropriate.
(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $2,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2026 through 2030.
SEC. 8. FOOD LOSS AND WASTE EDUCATION AND AWARENESS CAMPAIGN.
(a) In General.--The Secretary, in consultation with the
Administrator, shall initiate a national food waste education and
public awareness campaign (referred to in this section as the
``campaign'') through--
(1) the Liaison; and
(2) the Office of Food Loss and Waste established under
section 3.
(b) Requirements.--The campaign shall, at a minimum--
(1) illustrate how much food goes to waste in the United
States and households across the United States;
(2) highlight methods for preserving and storing foods;
(3) provide consumers tips to identify whether food is
still safe and edible, regardless of any ``BEST If Used By'' or
the ``USE By'' date on the label or food packaging indicating
quality and freshness;
(4) teach consumers the differences between food freshness
and food safety;
(5) teach consumers how to compost food scraps;
(6) develop educational materials usable by several
different channels, including for specific industry sectors
(including retail, food service, and consumer packaged goods),
local governments, schools, community and faith-based
organizations, and other appropriate channels;
(7) educate consumers on food products made with food
waste, including upcycled food products, or that use innovative
technology to prevent food loss and food waste;
(8) include interactive elements; and
(9) inform about intersectional issues of food loss and
food waste, including public health, food insecurity, and
climate change.
(c) Priorities.--In carrying out the campaign, the Secretary shall
prioritize--
(1) initial research to determine a means to segment
populations to target;
(2) identify, using the means determined under paragraph
(1), population segments to target;
(3) understanding how to best target those identified
population segments; and
(4) determining which strategies are most effective in
changing consumer behaviors.
(d) Dual Framework Campaign.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall carry out the campaign
through--
(A) community engagement, which allows information
to be delivered through locally trusted sources, with
locally tailored solutions and partners (such as for
donation or compost options); and
(B) national messaging appropriate for raising
awareness of--
(i) nationally applicable issues (such as
the meaning of ``best by'' date labels, tips
for meal planning, or businesses that
manufacture products using ingredients that
would otherwise go to waste, including upcycled
food products); and
(ii) such other issues as the Secretary
determines to be appropriate.
(2) Pilot projects.--
(A) In general.--The Secretary shall--
(i) for the purpose of testing methods and
materials for carrying out the campaign through
community engagement under paragraph (1)(A),
carry out pilot projects in communities
selected by the Secretary; and
(ii) assess the results of those pilot
projects, including through waste audits or
other quantitative measurements.
(B) Requirements.--In carrying out pilot projects
under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall--
(i) ensure equity and diversity of
representation;
(ii) incorporate elements of behavioral
science to inform which aspects of the campaign
will be effective; and
(iii) in coordination with State, local, or
municipal governments, inform consumers in a
community of solutions, food products, or
initiatives that are available to help prevent
or reduce food waste.
(e) Waste Audits.--The Secretary shall conduct audits to gather
data relating to the impact of the campaign in communities targeted by
the campaign for the purpose of informing future efforts under the
campaign, including by comparing outcomes in communities targeted by
the campaign to outcomes in communities not targeted by the campaign.
(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $2,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2026 through 2030.
<all>
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
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