3 innovations that use artificial intelligence to combat food waste

One out of every three portions of food is thrown away or wasted. One out of every three apples or any product you see in the market. Yes, we are talking about a really serious problem. To remind each of us to take action, on 29 September, International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste is celebrated. We would also like to take this opportunity to highlight the contributions that are being made with the help of artificial intelligence (AI), a tool that may become the key to reducing this problem and its enormous environmental, social and economic consequences.

Want to discover the latest AI contributions on this topic? Here we go!

· Knowing exactly when a food product expires to make informed decisions

From the heart of the Netherlands comes the One Third initiative, which has created an artificial intelligence-based scanner capable of predicting when fruits and vegetables will expire. How does it do it? This tool combines an infrared scanner and a reference database of fresh produce. From images and other environmental indicators, artificial intelligence determines product quality and shelf life with high accuracy.

Through this device, the company aims to help farmers, who can prioritise the distribution of products that are going to expire first; individuals and distribution companies, to close deals that increase the chances of that food being sold and consumed; and business owners, to save money and make informed decisions about the handling of their products.

· Smart waste bins to curb waste in the catering industry

What if hotels and restaurants could accurately calculate how much food to buy? Orbisk has devised a technological solution for the catering industry: a smart container equipped with cameras and scales. This device analyses food waste in real time and incorporates the results into a large database that will be used to feed its artificial intelligence.

As the system manages to identify discarded food and its quantity, it begins to offer recommendations for more efficient purchasing in the future. It can suggest the exact amount of lettuce, potatoes or any other food that a restaurant needs to buy, minimising waste.

Despite the speed and efficiency required in kitchens, Orbisk has managed to design its system to integrate seamlessly and be able to collect valuable data and can, in record time, improve a restaurant’s purchasing decisions.

· Converting waste into nutrients

First, prevention. Now, how do we manage that food that has already been thrown in the bin? MOA Food Tech, an innovative Spanish company, uses fermentation to transform agricultural waste into alternative proteins. In this case, the AI tool is used to choose the most suitable microorganism for each by-product, saving research time. The result is that the company is able to convert crop residues and other by-products into ingredients rich in protein, B vitamins and omega fatty acids. We are talking about ingredients that are not only nutritious, but are also useful in the production of plant-based cheeses, meat substitutes, breads and sauces.

Clearly, there is still a long way to go, but with the support of AI, we can be optimistic about the road ahead in the fight against food waste. Is there any innovative initiative that has caught your attention? Follow us on social networks and tell us what you think!