USDA Invests Approximately $11.5 Million in Composting and Food Waste Reduction Projects in 23 States, Including Montana

Bozeman, January 29, 2024 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing approximately $11.5 million in 38 cooperative agreements that support innovative, scalable waste management plans to reduce and divert food waste from landfills. This includes three projects in Montana. 

The Composting and Food Waste Reduction cooperative agreements, which are funded by the American Rescue Plan Act, are part of USDA’s broad support for urban agriculture. The program is jointly administered by USDA’s Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). The recommended projects will be implemented between now and 2026.    

“These Composting and Food Waste Reduction projects help communities reduce food waste and greenhouse gas emissions,” said Tom Watson, State Conservationist of USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Montana. 

Added Maureen Wicks, State Executive Director for Farm Service Agency: “Local strategies and tools like these are important climate solutions and also contribute to food security at the community level here in Montana.”  

USDA prioritized projects that anticipate or demonstrate economic benefits, incorporate plans to make compost easily accessible to farmers, including community gardeners, integrate other food waste strategies, including food recovery efforts and collaborate with multiple partners. The collaboration between NIFA and the Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production is part of USDA’s framework to transform the U.S. food system to benefit consumers, producers and rural communities by providing more options, increasing access, and creating new and better markets for small and mid-size producers. 

Recipients include projects in 23 states. Projects in Montana include:

• City of Helena - Diverting Food Waste from the Landfill in the City of Helena and Lewis and Clark County
• Gallatin County - Food Rescue and Food Waste Composting
• The City-County of Butte Silver Bow - Butte-Silver Bow Composting for a Richer Hill 

For a complete list of these recommended cooperative agreement recipients and project summaries, visit usda.gov/urban. These new agreements build on USDA’s $12 million investment in 82 agreements since 2020.  

More Information       

The Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production was established through the 2018 Farm Bill. It is led by NRCS and works in partnership with numerous USDA agencies that support urban agriculture and innovative production. These cooperative agreements are part of a broader USDA investment in urban and innovative agriculture. 

Learn more at usda.gov/urban. For additional resources available to producers, download the Urban Agriculture at a Glance brochure or visit farmers.gov/urban.  Additional resources on food loss and waste prevention are available at www.usda.gov/foodlossandwaste.   

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