Reducing food loss and waste (FLW) is a key strategy for combating hunger and sustainably feeding a growing world. In the U.S., an estimated 56–78 million tonnes of food are wasted annually across the farm-to-fork system, embedding large amounts of land, fertilizer, and water. Contributing factors vary by food system stage, involving market forces, social norms, and human behavior. Current efforts recover or recycle roughly 19 million tonnes annually, mostly at the manufacturing stage. Critical needs include quantitative assessment of composting programs, technologies converting food waste to safe animal feed, and behavior-change interventions targeting consumers.