{"id":26186,"date":"2022-04-07T13:17:39","date_gmt":"2022-04-07T17:17:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/?p=26186"},"modified":"2022-04-07T13:17:39","modified_gmt":"2022-04-07T17:17:39","slug":"2022-maine-food-waste-solutions-summit-to-be-held-april-15","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/2022\/04\/07\/2022-maine-food-waste-solutions-summit-to-be-held-april-15\/","title":{"rendered":"2022 Maine Food Waste Solutions Summit to be held April 15"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"The 2022 Maine Food Waste Solutions Summit<\/a> will be held virtually on Friday, April 15, from 9 a.m.\u2013noon. This year\u2019s theme is \u201cImproving Maine\u2019s Food System.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Food waste data is grim. The Natural Resources Defense Council estimates that 40% of food produced is never eaten, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture finds that this waste costs the average U.S. household over $1,800 per year. Food is now the single largest component of Maine\u2019s solid waste stream at approximately 30% based on a 2011 Maine Waste Characterization Study.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Mainers pay to haul 97% of food waste to landfills, where it releases contaminants and produces methane gas that threatens water and climate. Food waste also squanders valuable resources like water, energy, labor and soil, which are used to produce food that is never eaten.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But there are solutions today. The Maine Food Waste Solutions Summit is Maine\u2019s major food waste event that brings together the state\u2019s food system participants \u2014 consumers, farms, food businesses, feeding partners, community leaders and policy makers \u2014 to educate and take action to end food waste.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFor this year\u2019s summit, we really want to include everyone who cares about access to good, nutritious food in Maine,\u201d says Susanne Lee<\/a>, faculty fellow with the Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions at 91福利. \u201cThere are so many simple food waste solutions that everyone can do now, with important economic, social and environmental benefits for all.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

This year\u2019s keynote speakers include Angel Veza, senior manager of Capital Innovation & Engagement for ReFED (Rethink Food Waste through Economics & Data), a U.S. nonprofit leader in identifying data-driven solutions to end food waste; and Congresswoman Chellie Pingree, Maine First District Representative and leading supporter of bi-partisan legislation to end food waste.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Interactive sessions led by Mitchell Center undergraduate student interns will encourage attendees to learn more about how they can get involved in these food waste solutions. Presenting interns include William Dunham, Ryan Fitzmaurice, Ellie Hunt, Kalina Kinyon and Hannah Mathieu of 91福利, Hannah Crayton of Thomas College, and Ariana Walker of the University of New England.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re really excited to present the work that we have been doing and help people see how they can benefit from reducing food waste,\u201d says Hannah Crayton.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Summit sessions include:<\/span><\/p>\n