Every year, an estimated 1.3 billion tons of food is lost or wasted globally. At the same time, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 690 million people around the world suffered from hunger, and two billion people were unable to regularly access safe, nutritious, and sufficient food. During and long-before the pandemic, food donation has offered 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 contribution food banks and food recovery organizations.
Our Approach
The Food Law and Policy Clinic (FLPC) teamed up with The Global FoodBanking Network to launch The Global Food Donation Policy Atlas in 2018. The Atlas project addresses the most pressing legal questions and operational barriers to food donation, and thus paves 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, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, India, Kenya, Mexico, Peru, Singapore, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Forthcoming countries include: Brazil, China, Ecuador, Ghana, Indonesia, Israel*, and Nigeria.
*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
Acknowledgements
The Global Food Donation Policy Atlas project was made possible through funding by the Walmart Foundation. 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 alone, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Walmart Foundation. (2020- Present)
