Trailblazing Food Rescue Conference Returns This October

On October 24 – 25, Pittsburgh based Food Rescue Hero, and its parent organization 412 Food Rescue, will host its annual Food Rescue Conference. What started as a networking and educational event exclusive to organizations using the Food Rescue Hero™ technology has become a global resource livestreamed for all food recovery stakeholders. Now in its third year, it remains the only conference focused solely on actionable and innovative food recovery solutions.

Globally, about 20% of all food that is produced goes to waste, and that waste is one of the leading causes of greenhouse gas emissions. In the United States, up to 40% of food is wasted, while one in ten people goes hungry. For governmental bodies across the country, the urgency of this crisis is coming into focus, with dozens of pending and passed state food-waste bills and a recently released National Strategy for Reducing Food Loss and Waste. At the same time, many states are finding reducing food waste isn’t as simple as they thought.

One of the most promising solutions to the difficult task of reducing food waste is food recovery. The Food Rescue Conference aims to spur growth and innovation across this burgeoning field to help increase success rates for reduction goals. This year’s slate of speakers includes industry leaders from food recovery, food retail, nutrition security, healthcare, and academia. A packed schedule of mainstage and breakout sessions will cover a diverse range of topics, from building an expanded distribution network, to social trends, to legislation.

“Food recovery is one of the most powerful tools we have to fight climate change and food insecurity, but it’s not easy,” says Jennifer England, Vice President of External Affairs of Food Rescue Hero. “It requires rethinking how we approach food waste and the charitable food systems. Our focus is helping provide both the tools and the theoretical framework needed for this massive shift in effort and impact.”

In 2015, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and EPA announced the U.S. 2030 Food Loss and Waste Reduction goal of 50% by 2030, mirroring the United Nations global goal.  “The urgency of these crises requires a spirit of radical collaboration, and this conference is an example of that spirit in action,” noted Alyssa Cholodosky, CEO of Food Rescue hero. “Together, we can build and implement strategies for a truly effective response to the food waste crisis.”

Press is invited to attend in person in Pittsburgh or virtually via the livestream.