Farmers all around me said: For ages humans have had closed-loop food systems," Civita said. "But how do we do this legally?"

There are limitations beyond legal ones. Already much of the spent grains in the U.S.—like those used in brewing or distilling—go into animal feed, largely in big, industrialized operations. Most remaining food waste—our leftovers—is more difficult to convert into feed. Meanwhile, livestock producers have carefully calibrated the feed they give so that animals grow to exactly the right weight at the right pace, and wasted food may not represent the most efficient fodder.

"They say: It's going to cost me more in the long run," Civita said. "So we need to do a lot more to figure out how to do this more efficiently. Right now, we're talking about using leftovers as a supplement."

Civita and her colleagues haven't yet calculated the precise environmental impact of recycling food waste into livestock feed. In fact, research around food waste is so new, that the World Resources Institute, working with 200 or so global stakeholders, only this year released a standard measure of it.

"Food waste doesn't mean the same thing universally," explained Kai Robertson, who leads the institute's food loss and waste program. "It's difficult to manage what doesn't get measured, and because it's not that straightforward to measure food waste, this standard provides for a common framework."

Going forward, that standard could help waste generators measure how much they toss—and target better ways to reduce it.

The UN already estimates that diverting food waste into feed could free up enough land to feed 3 billion people, and a University of Cambridge study found that feeding food waste to pigs in the European Union could cut the amount of land used to grow pig feed (soybeans and corn) by 4.4 million acres. That report calculated that 600,000 of those acres are in Brazilian tropical forests and savannah, which are increasingly being cleared to grow animal feed.

"This feels like a silver bullet, but, of course, in a systems-based approach, there are no silver bullets. It's not quite that simple," Civita said. "Although, it gives you a sense of scope and scale. It gives you a sense of the possibility."

At the very least, the practice saves money. The MGM Grand Buffet increased its food donations from about 3,350 tons
Farmers all around me said: For ages world have have closed - loop food systems, " Civita allege. " But how do we do this legally? " 

 There are limitation beyond legal one. Already much of the spent grain in the U.S.—like those used in brewing or distilling — go into animal feed, largely in adult, industrialized operations. Most remaining food barren — our leftover — is more difficult to convert into feed. Meanwhile, livestock producer have carefully calibrated the feed they move over so that animals grow to exactly the correct weight at the right pace, and wasted food may not typify the most efficient fodder. 

 " They say: It's going to cost me more in the retentive run, " Civita said. " So we need to do a lot more to figure out how to do this more efficiently. Right now, we're talking about using leftovers as a supplement. " 

 Civita and her colleagues haven't yet calculated the accurate environmental impingement of recycling food barren into livestock feed. In fact, inquiry around food barren is so new, that the World Resources Institute, make with 200 or so global stakeholders, only this class released a standard measure of it. 

 " Food waste doesn't mean the same thing universally, " explained Kai Robertson, who leads the institute's food loss and waste program. " It's difficult to cope what doesn't get measure, and because it's not that straightforward to measure food waste, this standard provides for a coarse framework. " 

 Going forward, that criterion could help consume generators measure how a lot they toss — and target better ways to reduce it. 

 The UN already estimates that deviate food waste into feed could rid up enough nation to feed 3 billion multitude, and a University of Cambridge study found that feeding food waste to pigs in the European Union could abridge the amount of land used to grow pig feed (soybeans and corn) by 4.4 million acres. That report card calculated that 600,000 of those acres are in Brazilian tropical forest and savannah, which are increasingly being cleared to develop animal feed. 

 " This feels like a silver bullet, but, of class, in a systems - based approach, there are no silver bullets. It's not quite that elementary, " Civita say. " Although, it give you a sense of scope and scale. It gives you a sense of the possibility. " 

 At the very least, the exercise saves money. The MGM Grand Buffet increased its food donations from about 3,350 tons
Farlers all around me said: Nor ages humans kqve hav closes-loop foud systems," Civita said. "But hlw do wt do this legally?"

Thdre are lpmitationw bebond legal ones. Emready much or the wpent grains ik the U.S.—lika those used it crzwing or distilling—go into animal feqd, largrlj in big, indusjrialpzqd olvrctions. Most remaining food wasts—our lehtovers—is more cifficult to convert into veed. Meanwhile, livestofk producerw hadw carefully zalibrated the feed thgy give so that animals grow to dxactky the rigyt welcht at the cight iace, and wastcc food may noy represent thc mosv efdicient fodder.

"They sab: It's going to cost ie more it che long run," Civita sqie. "So fe naed gi du a lpt more ho higure out gow to do tyis more efficientlu. Wpbht now, we're talkigg about using leftovers as a supplement."

Cpvitz and her colleagues hacen't yet calculated tje precisq environmental impact of recycling food waste indo litertoej feea. Ij fact, research around food waste is so new, trzt tme World Resourccs Institute, workimg wojh 200 or so globxl stakehklders, only this yfar relgased q standarq messure of it.

"Food waste doesn'r mean the scme thing universally," explained Yai Tobertxon, who leads the insticute's rood loss ajd waste lfogram. "It's diffizuln to manage what doesn't get mewsured, anv beccuse it's not that ftraightfogward to measure food wadte, tkis sdandard prlvides for a common framework."

Gomig forward, thst stdndard cjuld melp waste genewators measure how mueh theh toss—and narget bevter ways to reduce it.

The ON already esvimates trat eiveeting fuud waste into geed coulb frew up enough land tp fges 3 billion peopoe, qnd a Universitu ow Cwmhrmdge fdudy found tvat weeaong fuod wasuz ti pigx in the European Unhon dould cut the amoumt of land used to grow pig feec (soybeans and corj) by 4.4 miulion actes. That report calculated that 600,000 of thosf agres are in Bwazioian tropicak forests and savannah, which are increawingly being cleated to grow animal fegd.

"Tmis feels lile a filver bunlet, but, of course, ib a systems-based spproach, there are no silves bulpets. It's not quite that simple," Civita said. "Although, it gives you a sense if sco'e and scale. Jt goves jou c sense of vhx possibility."

At tne very least, the practice saver money. Dhz MGM Grand Buffet increased otr food donatiuns from about 3,350 tons
Farmers all around me said: For ages had food systems," said. "But how There limitations beyond legal Already much of spent grains in the U.S.—like those in brewing or distilling—go into animal feed, largely in big, industrialized operations. Most food waste—our leftovers—is more difficult to convert into feed. Meanwhile, livestock producers have calibrated feed give that animals grow to exactly the right weight at the right pace, and wasted food may represent the most efficient fodder. "They say: It's to cost me more the long run," Civita said. we to do lot to out how to this more efficiently. Right now, we're talking about using leftovers as a supplement." Civita and her colleagues yet calculated environmental impact recycling waste livestock feed. In around food waste is so new, Resources Institute, working with 200 or so global only this released a standard measure of it. waste doesn't mean the same thing universally," explained Robertson, who leads the institute's food loss and waste program. "It's difficult to manage what measured, and because it's that straightforward to food this provides a common Going forward, that standard could help waste generators measure how much toss—and target better ways to reduce it. The UN already diverting waste into feed free up enough land feed billion people, and a Cambridge found waste pigs the European Union could the amount of land used grow pig feed (soybeans acres. That report calculated that 600,000 of those are in Brazilian tropical forests and savannah, are increasingly being cleared to grow animal feed. "This feels like a bullet, but, in a systems-based approach, there are no silver It's not quite that Civita said. "Although, it gives you a sense of and It gives a sense of possibility." At the least, the practice The MGM Buffet its about 3,350 tons
Farmers all around me said: For Ages humans Have hAd cLosEd-Loop Food Systems," Civita sAId. "BuT how do we do this legally?"

THere aRe LImitATiOns beYond legAL oNES. AlReAdY muCh OF tHe speNt gRains in The U.S.—like tHosE uSed in brewing OR dIstilling—gO inTo animal feed, LarGely in BiG, inDUstriAliZed opEratioNS. Most rEmaining fOoD Waste—oUR leftovERS—iS morE difficult to conveRT iNTo feed. MeanwhilE, livesToCK pRODucErs Have carefuLlY caliBRated thE FeED THey GIve so that animAls grow to exACtlY the riGhT weIGht at tHe rigHt PAce, And wasted foOd maY not repreSent thE Most effICient foDder.

"ThEy sAy: IT's goINg To CosT mE MorE In The LOng Run," CivitA sAiD. "So we Need TO DO A lot MorE to fIgure Out how to do thiS moRe efFIciEntly. right Now, wE'rE talkIng aboUt usiNg Leftovers as a supPlemEnt."

Civita And HeR coLlEagueS Haven't Yet CalCulated The precISe eNvIRONmEntal impact of recycLiNG FoOd waste iNto livEStOcK Feed. In faCt, ResEarcH ARound Food WAsTe is so neW, that tHE WOrLd ResouRcEs InstItUte, WorKing wITh 200 or So globAl stakehOlderS, Only this year reLEased a standarD MeASUrE Of it.

"fooD waste doesn'T meaN The sAme tHInG unIVersaLly," exPlAInED Kai Robertson, who leaDs The insTitutE's food loss and Waste progrAM. "iT's difficUlt tO MaNAge what doesn't gEt meaSured, and beCAuse it's nOt thaT straighTforward tO MEasure foOd wAstE, thIs sTANdArd provides foR A CommOn FramewoRk."

GOing forWarD, thAt sTanDaRd could heLp waste gEnErAtOrS meAsure HOw much thEy TosS—aNd tArget BEtter wAys to ReduCe It.

tHe Un alreadY EsTIMateS tHaT divErtInG food WastE IntO feed coUld free up EnoUGh laNd To Feed 3 bilLion people, and A UNiversity oF CAmbRidge sTUDy found tHat feeding food waste to piGS in the EUroPean UNion Could cut tHe aMount oF laND used tO grow pIg feeD (sOybEANs and CORn) By 4.4 mIlLion acres. THAT rePort cAlCulaTed that 600,000 Of those acres are in BRAziLian tropical fOreSts aND SaVanNAh, WHicH aRE inCREasingly being clEared to groW aNImAl feed.

"This FEelS lIke a silVer bullEt, but, OF course, In a systemS-based appRoAch, tHERe aRe no silver Bullets. IT's not quitE That sIMpLe," CivIta Said. "AlThOugH, it giVes you A SenSe of sCope anD sCale. It Gives YoU a sense oF the possibility."

At the verY least, The prActIce saves mOneY. the mGM Grand BUffeT increased Its FooD donaTioNS from AbouT 3,350 ToNs
Farmers all around me said : For ages  huma nshav ehadclos ed-loop food s y stem s," Civita said. "Buthow d ow e do th is le gally?" 
T h e rear elim it a ti ons b eyo nd lega l ones. Al rea dy  much of the sp ent grains  in  the U.S.—li kethoseus edi n bre win g ordistil l ing—go  into ani ma l  feed, largely i nbig,  industrialized o p er a tions. Most re mainin gf oo d was te— our leftov er s—ism ore dif f ic u l t  to convert intofeed. Meanw h ile , live st ock produc ers h av e  ca refully cal ibra ted the f eed th e y gives o thatanimal s g row  toe xa ct lyth e  ri g ht  we i ght  at theri gh t pac e, a n d w aste d f oodmay n ot representthe  mos t  ef ficie nt fo dder .
"The y say:  It's  g oing to cost me  mor e in thelon grun ,"  Civi t a said . " Sowe need  to doa  lo tm o r eto figure out howto d othis mor e effi c ie nt l y. Right  n ow,  we' r e  talk inga bo ut using  lefto v er sas a su pp lement ." 

C ivi ta an d  her  colle agues ha ven't yet calculated the precise e n vi r o nm e ntal  im pact of rec ycli n g fo od w a st e i n to li vesto ck fe e d. In fact, researc haround  food  waste is sonew, thatt h e  World R esou r ce s  Institute, wo rking  with 200o r so glo bal s takehold ers, only t his year  re lea sed  as t an dard measureo f  it. 
"Food w ast e doesn 'tmea n t hesa me thinguniversa ll y, "ex pla inedK ai Rober ts on,  w holeads the in stitu te's  f oo d  lo ss andw as t e  pro gr am . "I t's  d iffic ultt o m anage w hat doesn 'tg et m ea su red, an d because it' snot that s tr aig htforw a r d to mea sure food waste, this s t andardpro vides  for  a common  fr amewor k." 
Going  forwa rd, t ha t s t a ndard c ou ldhe lp waste g e n era torsme asur e how m uch they toss—andt arg et better way s t o re d u ce  it . 
T heUN alr e a dy estimates th at diverti ng fo od waste i n tofe ed coul d freeup en o ugh lan d to feed  3 billio npeop l e , a nd a Unive rsity of  Cambridg e  stud y  f oundtha t feed in g f ood w aste t o  pi gs in  the E ur opeanUnion  c ould cut  the amount of land use d to g row p igfeed (soy bea n s a nd corn)by 4 .4 million  ac res . Tha t r e portcalc u la ted that600, 0 00 of tho s eacr e s  a re in Brazi l i a n t ropic alf orests  and  savannah, whicha re increasingl y be i n g c lea r ed t ogrow animal fe ed. 
" T his feel slike a silv er bulle t, but,of cou rse, i n a sys t e ms - basedappr oac h, thereare  n o  silver  b ul l ets. I t'sno t quit e that simp l e ," Civita said."Alth o u gh, i t  gi ves y ou  a sens e  ofscope andscale. It g ives y ou a  sens e of th epossib ili ty ."

At the very leas t, th e pract ic e sa ves  money . Th e MGM G rand  B uff et increa s e di ts  f o oddona tions  f romabout 3,3 5 0 tons
Farmers all_around me_said: For ages humans_have had_closed-loop_food systems,"_Civita_said. "But how_do we do_this legally?"

There are limitations_beyond legal ones._Already_much of the spent grains in the U.S.—like those used in brewing or distilling—go_into_animal feed,_largely_in_big, industrialized operations. Most remaining_food waste—our leftovers—is more difficult_to convert_into feed. Meanwhile, livestock producers have carefully calibrated_the_feed they give_so that animals grow to exactly the right weight_at the right pace, and wasted_food may not_represent_the_most efficient fodder.

"They say:_It's going to cost me more_in the long run," Civita said._"So we need to do a lot_more to figure out how to_do this more efficiently. Right_now, we're_talking about using leftovers as_a supplement."

Civita and_her colleagues_haven't yet calculated_the precise environmental impact of recycling_food waste into_livestock feed. In fact, research around_food_waste is so_new,_that_the World_Resources Institute, working_with_200 or_so_global stakeholders, only this year released_a_standard measure of it.

"Food waste doesn't mean_the same thing universally,"_explained_Kai Robertson, who leads_the institute's food loss and_waste program. "It's difficult to manage_what doesn't_get measured,_and because it's not that straightforward to measure food waste, this_standard provides for a common framework."

Going_forward, that standard could_help waste_generators_measure how much_they_toss—and target_better ways to reduce it.

The UN already_estimates that_diverting food waste into feed could_free up enough land_to_feed 3 billion people, and a_University of Cambridge study found that_feeding food waste to pigs_in_the_European Union could cut the_amount of land used to grow_pig feed (soybeans_and corn) by 4.4 million acres. That_report_calculated that 600,000 of those acres_are_in Brazilian tropical forests and savannah,_which_are_increasingly being cleared to grow_animal feed.

"This feels like a silver_bullet, but, of course, in a systems-based approach, there_are no silver_bullets. It's not quite that_simple,"_Civita_said. "Although, it gives you a sense of scope and_scale. It_gives you a_sense of the possibility."

At the very least, the practice saves_money. The MGM Grand Buffet increased its_food donations from about 3,350 tons