Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection
At a Glance
Industry
Government/Public Administration
Project Types
Data Analysis, Engagement and Behavior Change, Food and Agriculture
Year
2023
Location
Hartford, CT
Summary
Amarpreet Singh formulated a food waste prevention and recovery policy roadmap, for Connecticut with an aim to address surplus edible food waste and tackle food insecurity in the state.
Goals
The fellowship's primary goal was to comprehensively understand Connecticut's food waste prevention and recovery landscape. This involved engaging stakeholders, analyzing data, and conducting research to create a strategic policy roadmap.
Through active involvement with stakeholders across sectors like the food industry, government, communities, and nonprofits, the fellowship sought to gather diverse insights. These interactions aimed to inform the development of a policy roadmap that could effectively guide future actions. Moreover, by researching successful strategies from other regions, Amar aimed to enrich the policy roadmap with proven approaches.
Solutions
Amar took a leadership role in facilitating inclusive virtual listening sessions via Zoom, engaging a diverse range of stakeholders. These sessions were strategically organized for food recovery organizations, major food retail entities, government representatives, farms, animal feed manufacturers, esteemed research organizations like ReFED, academic experts from Harvard Law School's Food Law and Policy Clinic, and emerging food waste start-ups. Through these interactive forums, valuable insights were garnered to inform the policy recommendations.
In tandem with the listening sessions, Amar spearheaded an extensive data collection and analysis effort, collaborating closely with these organizations. This data-driven approach not only refined the policy proposals but also ensured their practical viability. This collective effort culminated in the creation of a comprehensive policy recommendation document. This document encompassed a wide spectrum of well-crafted recommendations, poised to contribute significantly to the state's objectives in food waste prevention and recovery. Amar orchestrated a mid-project working session in Hartford, drawing over 100 stakeholders to actively participate in shaping the project's trajectory.
Potential Impact
Upon project completion, CT DEEP now holds a comprehensive research document that covers every aspect of Connecticut's food waste prevention and recovery system. This document is a crucial asset for formulating state government policy proposals to address food waste challenges in the state.