Read on to learn how we’re fighting food waste and how you can join us!
Preventing Food Waste, One Meal at a Time!
Preventing Food Waste, One Meal at a Time!
Farm Sanctuary is proud to be among more than 790 partners across 49 U.S. states and 22 countries joining forces for Food Waste Prevention Week (April 7-13), working together to educate the public and create a more sustainable food system.
The Problem
Did you know that over 30% of food in the United States—and almost one-fifth of all food globally—is wasted?
Industrial animal agriculture is often touted as a way to feed the world’s population efficiently, but it actually exacerbates food waste—while also causing heartbreaking animal suffering. One study concluded that approximately one in four animals on factory farms die before they would have been slaughtered for human consumption. Plus, half of the world’s habitable land is used for agriculture, mainly for raising farmed animals and growing crops to feed them rather than feeding humans directly—and yet, animal agriculture produces just 18 percent of the world’s calories.
The Solutions
Instead of letting nutritious food end up in landfills, Farm Sanctuary’s Food Recovery Project rescues high-quality produce from local stores to nourish our rescued animal residents. This is thanks to generous community partners like TOPS Friendly Market in Watkins Glen, where we pick up food kindly donated to Farm Sanctuary.
Produce pick-up at TOPS Friendly Market
At the sanctuary, the produce is sorted, washed, and chosen for the many species and individuals we care for.
The human-quality produce we provide our residents doubles as enrichment, keeping them happy and healthy!
These ongoing sustainability initiatives are part of our broader efforts to reduce waste and support ethical and sustainable plant-based food systems.
We also strive to produce zero food waste by training staff and volunteers in zero-waste practices and incorporating fresh-grown produce from our garden into the menu at the on-site vegan cafe at our Watkins Glen sanctuary.
From the meals we serve visitors at our cafe to the meals we serve our rescued residents, we are fighting food waste and cultivating sustainability.
With your support, we are raising awareness of and combatting the waste inherent in industrial agriculture and promoting delicious vegan solutions.
This Earth Day and beyond, please join us in taking action against food waste:
- Try these handy tips for zero-waste vegan eating and a creamy, waste-free broccoli soup recipe!
- Browse Scrappy Cooking recipes by Carleigh Bodrug, founder of PlantYou, to “transform commonly wasted foods and scraps” into amazing vegan dishes.
- Thanks to Food Waste Prevention Week, find more ways to make a difference here.
