AI Tackles Food Waste: Can New Tech Save Billions of Tons from Landfills?
Image Credit: John Cameron | Unsplash
Artificial Intelligence is being harnessed to tackle a critical issue: the massive amount of food waste generated by supermarkets, restaurants, and hotels. The innovation aims to reduce this inefficiency in the food chain, which is not only a financial burden but also an environmental hazard.
The Scale of the Problem: Food Waste and Its Environmental Impact
Food waste is a pressing global issue, with a third of food produced in the U.S. never making it to the plate. Globally, about 1 billion metric tons of food were wasted in 2022, contributing 8% to 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions—equivalent to the emissions from the entire aviation and shipping sectors. Misleading "best by" and "sell by" labels often add to the problem, leading to edible foods being discarded.
AI’s Innovative Approach to Waste Reduction
Companies like Winnow and Afresh are developing AI tools to combat food waste. Winnow’s technology monitors what’s being thrown away in restaurants, using cameras and AI algorithms to identify high-value items, like breakfast croissants or lasagna, that are being wasted. Afresh, meanwhile, sifts through supermarket sales data to pinpoint discrepancies between stock and demand. This AI-driven analysis can help supermarkets optimize inventory, reducing unnecessary waste and boosting profits.
Tech-Driven Solutions Already Making Progress
Supermarkets in the U.S. and Canada are part of the Pacific Coast Food Waste Commitment, a collective initiative that aims to reduce food waste. Between 2019 and 2022, participating chains reported a 25% drop in their unsold food volumes. These efforts include diverting surplus food to charities and compost facilities. Similar initiatives, such as coatings for fresh produce from startups like Apeel and Mori, as well as apps like Flashfood and Too Good To Go, help retailers and consumers minimize waste.
Supermarket Stock Predictions Get Smarter
Afresh’s AI tool analyzes years of sales data to predict trends in real-time, determining optimal stock levels for items like avocados, eggs, and bell peppers. This data-based approach allows supermarkets to fine-tune orders based on seasonality and demand patterns. AI’s precision has become vital, especially with experienced store managers becoming scarcer. By accurately predicting demand and advising on optimal order quantities, AI is helping stores avoid overstocking and unnecessary waste.
How AI is Helping Restaurants Avoid Waste
In restaurants, AI systems like Winnow are providing detailed insights into what gets wasted. For instance, Hilton Hotels discovered that many of their breakfast pastries were oversized, leading to wastage, while baked beans often went unfinished. Adjusting portion sizes, as recommended by these AI tools, can significantly reduce waste, addressing a persistent problem that impacts both the bottom line and the environment.
The Way Forward: AI’s Potential and Limitations
While AI offers promising solutions for reducing food waste, it also has limitations. Its energy consumption contributes to its own environmental footprint, and it cannot single-handedly shift consumer expectations of abundant, varied food supplies. However, it provides a crucial step toward minimizing waste in the food industry and supporting efforts to cut food waste in half by 2030, a goal that requires stronger action across the entire food system.
AI as a Catalyst for Change
Artificial intelligence is becoming a key player in the fight against food waste, revealing inefficiencies and guiding better decision-making in the food industry. Though AI alone cannot solve the problem, its integration represents a major leap toward a more sustainable future. With increased adoption and refinement, these AI-driven efforts could significantly reduce food waste, saving resources, and lessening environmental impacts.
Source: The Japan Times
