**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** IN RECENT YEARS, FOOD LOSS AND WASTE HAS BECOME THE SUBJECT OF MUCH PUBLIC ATTENTION. GOERNMENT PROGRAMS AT THE FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LEVELS HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED TO ADDRESS MANY ASPECTS OF FOOD-WASTE REDUCTION. ASSESSING THE COST-EFFECTIVENESS OF FOOD-WASTE REDUCTION INITIATIVES REQUIRES A FOUNDATION OF ACCURATE MEASUREMENT OF FOOD LOSS AND WASTE.THE RESEARCH TEAM WILL USE ECONOMIC AND STATISTICAL METHODS TO ESTIMATE ON-FARM VEGETABLE LOSS AND WASTE IN THE UNITED STATES BASED ON FARM-LEVEL DATA FROM USDA'S NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS SERVICE. THE TEAMWILL ALSO USE ECONOMIC AND STATISTICAL METHODS TO EXPLORETHE EFFECTS OF CROP INSURANCE AND QUALITY STANDARDS ON ON-FARM VEGETABLE LOSS AND WASTE. THE RESEARCHERS WILL STUDY HOW VARIOUS CREDIBLE POLICY SCENARIOS FOR REDUCING ON-FARM LOSS AND WASTE OF VEGETABLES MAY LEAD TO CHANGES INENVIRONMENTAL AND NUTRITIONAL OUTCOMES. THE RESEARCH IS EXPECTED TO SHED LIGHT ON THE EXTENT OF ON-FARM FOOD LOSS AND WASTE IN THE UNITED STATES AND PROVIDE POLICY MAKERS AND REGULATORS WITH VALUABLE INFORMATION ON HOW THE ISSUESCAN BE MOST EFFECTIVELY ADDRESSED.THE PROPOSED RESEARCH ADDRESSES NIFA GOALS AROUND FOOD SECURITY AND HUNGER, NATURAL RESOURCES AND THE ENVIRONMENT, AND THE AFFORDABILITY OF NUTRITIOUS FOOD. MORE NARROWLY, THE PROPOSED RESEARCH ADDRESSES THE ECONOMICS, MARKETS, AND TRADE PROGRAM PRIORITY RESEARCH AREAS OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION AND RESOURCE USE AND AGRICULTURAL POLICY DESIGN AND IMPACTS.