[slothtrop]

Well plant production for meat includes things like soybeans and corn. While they're non-perishable it's not what those in food-insecure places would want to eat. Grains yes, but I hazard malnutrition is owing to lack of other food sources.

On the local level I think companies lobby against redistributing excess foods for free to keep prices high. Something's got to give, either food waste is drastically diminished or we redistribute all of it.

[zdragnar]

Redistributing crops for free means creating a catch-22 situation guaranteeing they will never have local farmers.

Why be a subsistence farmer or cash cropper when the local market is flooded with free food?

[slothtrop]

Those in need aren't "the market". Notwithstanding that, farmers are often subsidized anyway.