Governor Walz announces $200 million for climate-smart food systems in Minnesota

Governor Tim Walz along with the EPA and Minnesota State Leaders announced a $200 million grant to cut climate pollution from Minnesota food systems on Tuesday July 23rd. The funding was awarded through the EPA’s Climate Pollution Reduction Grants program.

The funding will go towards the Minnesota Climate-Smart Food Systems project, a multipronged project aiming to cut climate pollution from Minnesota food systems.

Some goals of the project include:

• Protecting and restoring 10,000 acres of peatlands in Minnesota, which absorb and store climate pollution.
• Expanding support for farmers through the nationally recognized Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification and Soil Health Financial Assistance programs.
• Replacing gas-powered vehicles and equipment used in food systems like tractors and freight trucks with EVs and advanced clean fuel options.
• Implementing innovative new technologies at food and organic waste processing sites.
• Scaling up successful programs to prevent food waste and keep organic matter out of landfills.
• Helping small businesses, supermarkets, schools, hospitals, food banks, and corner stores invest in new, climate-friendly refrigerators.
• Coordinating with Tribal governments and Low-Income and Disadvantaged Communities to improve food security and strengthen food sovereignty.

The MPCA will manage the grant, which also provides funding to several other state entities including the Minnesota Departments of Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Health, and Board of Water and Soil Resources.

The climate-smart food systems project is one of 25 projects selected as part of a highly competitive Climate Pollution Reduction Grant application process. It is one of only three in the EPA’s midwestern Region 5 to receive funding. The EPA received nearly 300 applications from entities from across the country requesting a total of nearly $33 billion in funding.