Every year, an estimated 1.3 billion tons of food is lost or wasted globally. At the same time, as of 2022, more than 780 million people around the world suffered from hunger, and almost 30% of the global population was unable to regularly access safe, nutritious, and sufficient food. Food donation offers a critical and innovative solution to reduce food loss, waste, and hunger, by redirecting safe, surplus food to those who need it most. Uncertainty surrounding the laws and policies affecting food donation, however, are hindering the potential of food donation operations and undermining the contributions of food banks and food recovery organizations.
Our Approach
The Food Law and Policy Clinic teamed up with The Global FoodBanking Network to launch The Global Food Donation Policy Atlas in 2018. In 2025, the European Food Banks Federation (FEBA) partnered with the Atlas project to produce the Atlas – EU Series, focused on food loss and waste polices within the European Union. The Atlas project and the Atlas – EU Series address the most pressing legal questions and operational barriers to food donation, and thus pave the way for greater food donation.
The Global Food Donation Policy Atlas project analyzes and explains national laws relating to food donation in countries around the world; shares best practices and tailored policy recommendations for overcoming these barriers in each country; provides technical assistance to countries seeking to implement these policy changes; and offers a platform for global engagement via our website, webinars, and conferences.
Participating Countries
Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, European Union, Ghana, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel*, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Singapore, South Africa, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam.
*Research on food donation laws and policies in Israel is supported by the Hoffen Family Foundation
Contact the Atlas Team
The Harvard Law School Food Law and Policy Clinic (FLPC) and Global FoodBanking Network (GFN) recognize that the food donation legal landscape is changing rapidly. FLPC and GFN invite visitors to communicate any new law or policy developments relevant to food donation in participating countries, as well as relevant resources about law and policy related to food donation in other countries.
For more information or media inquiries about the Global Food Donation Policy Atlas project, fill out this form or please contact:
The Harvard Law School Food Law and Policy Clinic (FLPC)
Mailing Address: 1585 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA 02138
Email: flpc@law.harvard.edu
The Global FoodBanking Network
Mailing Address: 70 East Lake Street, Suite 1200, Chicago, Illinois, USA 60601
Website: foodbanking.org
Email: info@foodbanking.org
For more information or media inquiries about the Global Food Donation Policy Atlas project – EU Series, please contact:
European Food Banks Federation (FEBA)
Mailing Address: Chaussée de Louvain 775,1140 Brussels, Belgium
Website: https://www.eurofoodbank.org/
Email: info@eurofoodbank.org
Acknowledgements
The Global Food Donation Policy Atlas project is made possible through funding by organizations and individuals, including foundational support provided by Walmart Foundation and current support by Lineage Foundation for Good. The findings, conclusions, and recommendations presented on the Atlas project website and reports are those of the Harvard Law School Food Law and Policy Clinic and The Global FoodBanking Network or the European Food Banks Federation, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of funding partners.
