Statewide Prevention of Wasted Food and Food Rescue Grant

The Minnesota Climate Smart Food Systems Statewide Prevention of Wasted Food and Food Rescue Grant is administered by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. This funding opportunity is part of the broader Climate Smart Food Systems initiative, which seeks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and environmental impacts associated with food production, distribution, and disposal. Supported through federal funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Climate Pollution Reduction Grants program, the initiative aims to transform Minnesota’s food systems by investing in innovative and sustainable solutions that reduce waste while enhancing food access across the state. The purpose of this grant is to decrease the amount of food wasted in Minnesota by supporting projects that prevent wasted food from being generated and rescue edible food that would otherwise be discarded. In alignment with the established waste hierarchy, the program prioritizes source reduction as the most preferred strategy, followed by redistributing surplus food to people in need. Through this funding, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency seeks to expand existing programs and establish new initiatives that prevent wasted food and redirect edible food for human consumption, delivering environmental, economic, and social benefits. Funds may be used to support a wide range of eligible activities that directly contribute to reducing wasted food and increasing food rescue. These activities include training, technical assistance, and financial support programs; the purchase of equipment or supplies to improve transportation, storage, or handling capacity; and the implementation of software tools to track and reduce food waste. Additional eligible uses include projects that rescue and distribute edible food, upcycle wasted food into new edible products, prevent food waste on farms, assist farmers in food rescue initiatives, and provide education and outreach programs that demonstrate measurable reductions in wasted food. Funding may also support staffing, program implementation, and operational needs essential to achieving project objectives. Eligible applicants include organizations serving Minnesota communities or operating within the state. These entities encompass nonprofit and not-for-profit organizations, for-profit businesses, educational institutions, political subdivisions such as counties, cities, and towns, state agencies, and Tribal governments. Collaborative applications involving multiple organizations are encouraged to enhance project impact and scalability. To qualify for funding, projects must demonstrate measurable increases in the amount of wasted food prevented or rescued for human consumption within Minnesota. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has approximately $12.5 million available for this grant program. Awards are distributed across three funding tiers: large, medium, and small projects. Large projects range from $1,000,000 to $1,500,000, medium projects range from $500,000 to $999,999, and small projects range from $75,000 to $499,999. Applicants are required to provide a minimum 20 percent match of the total grant request. Funding is intended to support initiatives that deliver quantifiable environmental and community benefits while advancing statewide climate and sustainability goals. Applications must be submitted electronically through the Statewide Integrated Financial Tools system. The Request for Proposals and application materials are accessible within the portal, where applicants can view bid packages and submit proposals. Questions regarding the grant are accepted via email until April 17, 2026, and an informational webinar was held on February 12, 2026, to provide guidance on the application process. Completed applications are due by April 28, 2026. Through this investment, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency aims to reduce food waste, conserve resources, and improve food security while contributing to long-term climate resilience across Minnesota.

Ensure projects demonstrate measurable reductions in wasted food and align with the waste hierarchy prioritizing prevention and food rescue.