[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 121 (Thursday, July 25, 2024)]
[House]
[Page H4919]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   CUTTING WASTE FROM FOOD PRODUCTION

  (Mr. LaMALFA asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. LaMALFA. Mr. Speaker, in the United States, over one-third of all 
food produced is never consumed, including a significant portion of 
livestock and animal products.
  Think about that for a minute. For the amount that is consumed, half 
of it is not. That is the equivalent of 143 billion meals, enough to 
feed every American three times over for a year.
  This waste comes at an enormous financial cost. Over $473 billion 
worth of food is thrown away annually. Beyond that monetary loss, this 
waste results in unnecessary consumption of resources, water, and 
energy.
  The production of animal resources demands significant amounts of 
water and energy. When food is wasted, so too are these critical 
resources. When meat is discarded, all the water used in its production 
is wasted as well, which is a high water use.
  Energy expended in raising, processing, and transporting these 
products is lost and wasted, contributing to inefficiencies and waste 
of resources.
  Farmers--I am one--invest countless hours, labor, and resources into 
growing crops and raising livestock. It drives us crazy to see it 
wasted.
  Transportation also plays a crucial role. We lose that energy.
  We must do better so our kids don't go hungry.

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