From Food Waste to Food Justice
You'll hear from an expert panel on the challenges of connecting food waste generators (grocers, farms, etc.) with hunger relief organizations, as well as some of the opportunities and solutions that are being developed.
According to the USDA, 9.5% of Washingtonians are considered food insecure. Over 770,000 people statewide are unable to consistently access the food they need, and nationally, that number soars to 18 million people. Yet, the USDA estimates that 30-40% of the food we produce is wasted.
As part of PNW Climate Week 2025, we gathered local leaders from across the food system for an engaging panel discussion and ideation workshop. Given the nature of the event, it attracted a wide range of attendees who are passionate about food waste reduction and food justice, beyond those who work full time in the space. As Liz Fikejs from Seattle Public Utilities shared, “It felt like people attended because they care about food systems, food security/justice and/or climate. It was really refreshing to hear off the cuff ideas from people who know less about persistent problems.”
Together, we explored what it takes to build a more just, efficient, and sustainable food recovery ecosystem.
