The CSG West Agriculture and Water Committee, chaired by Senator Wendy McKamey (MT) and Assemblymember Lori D. Wilson (CA), invited national and state experts Claudia Keller, TJ Birkel, and Glenda Humiston, Ph.D., to discuss food security and zero waste programs, harnessing Artificial Intelligence to support farms, food systems, and healthy ecosystems with committee members.
Food Security and Zero Waste in the Western States
Despite our nation’s relatively wealthy status, food insecurity, hunger, and food waste persist in our communities. Many factors are at play in the food security landscape. Members heard from two experts in the field, Claudia Keller of Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County, and TJ Birkel of Kroger. They shared data that helps tell the story of hunger and waste, including:
- Thirty-eight percent (38%) of food is wasted
- 44 million people struggle with hunger—including 1 in 5 children
- In California, food banks provided food to more than 6 million people in 2023
- In Orange County, California, alone, 330,000 people are food insecure, including 85,000 children—that is 1 in 10 people
- Nutrition security is just as important as food security
Making a Difference
Public and private organizations have responded to food insecurity and waste. For example, Kroger has set a goal of donating ten billion meals by 2030. In 2023, Kroger’s efforts towards zero hunger/zero waste included:
- 455 million meals donated
- $256 million donated
- 100% of stores donated surplus fresh food
- 95% of stores have active food waste recycling programs
- These donations are supported by local community partners working with Kroger
Focusing on Sustainability
Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County integrates several approaches to its operations to achieve its mission and vision by focusing efforts on:
- The importance of eliminating food waste
- Actively engaging in the Grocery Rescue programs, which are food banks and other community-based organizations working with grocers to rescue food that is edible but too close to expiration date to keep on shelves.
- Corporate partnerships
Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County has achieved TRUE Recycling Certification—the world’s first and only food bank to do so. They also operate a farm, a partnership with the University of California Agriculture & Natural Resources (ANR), for a continuous fresh supply of produce to supplement donations and grocery rescue supplies.
The impact of these two programs alone is immense. More can be done through partnerships, sharing best practices, and ensuring people access fresh, nutritious food.
Harnessing Artificial Intelligence to Support Farms, Food Systems and Healthy Ecosystems
Glenda Humiston, Vice-President of the University of California Agriculture & Natural Resources (ANR), shared the evolution of our food system to what is now the 21st-century food system. This food system focuses on the following:
- Precision nutrition: food-for-health
- Supply chain integrity & traceability
- Sustainable agricultural production
- Caloric & nutritional security
- Decreased food waste
- Connected farmers & consumers
The nexus between Artificial Intelligence (AI), technology, and the food system is evident. In California, policymakers have examined the policy framework needed to establish and sustain a 21st-century food system successfully. The Hoover Commission, an independent agency charged with studying and recommending action across the policymaking landscape, published a report, Artificial Intelligence: A Roadmap for California. The report urges California policymakers to:
- Build a state government infrastructure to develop and use AI that promotes economic, social, and environmental good.
- Ensure AI education in California schools and institutions of higher education.
- Improve the state’s collection of data.
- Provide incentives for AI investment, research, and development; and
- Promote apprenticeships and training for those whose jobs may be displaced or transformed by AI, including state employees.
In California, UC ANR uses “Coalitions of the Willing” to partner on significant investments and opportunities to integrate AI technologies across ANR research and management fully. These partnerships include:
- A $20 million grant from the U.S Department of Agriculture will empower the next generation to produce and distribute sustainable, nutritious food with fewer resources through transformative AI technologies, including molecular breeding, agriculture production, processing and distribution, and nutrition.
This grant’s focus is on empowering the people working in all these areas, using AI and technologies as enablers to achieve a 21st-century food system.
- A $65.1 million grant for a Climate Smart Food & Ag Tech Cluster from the U.S. Economic Development Agency focused on the critical elements of a 21st-century food system, including local farm & food innovation to build sustainable, equitable local food systems, and establish a skilled agricultural technology (AgTech) workforce that is ready for the future.
Other key strategies for a 21st-century food system are
- Multidisciplinary innovation – mechanical, electrical, software engineering, biology, social sciences, service providers.
- For robotics to work, crops must adapt. For example, they must grow 2-D walls of fruit, taller lettuce, and longer stems for harvesting.
- Harsh outdoor conditions make research and development (R&D) expensive compared to the potential return on investment. Government and university R&D are needed to bridge the gap.
The U.S. is fortunate to have funding and talent to compete and succeed in the 21st-century food system. Other countries, including China and India, invest much more in their people and technologies. When investments wane, our food system’s sufficiency, safety, and stewardship are at risk.
Working together, leveraging private, public, and philanthropic funding and physical assets (farm facilities, laboratories, workforce) is key to our competitiveness and success.