As a human, our priority or primary need is food. Believe it or not, almost all the issues that we see today are somehow rooted in the idea of food. From the GDP issue to the debt or even the global political polarity, everything that can be politically right or wrong can be traced back to food.
The first-world countries, where money is in surplus, technology is getting better with time and tech experts are working towards growing their crops via automation, the food is in surplus. On the contrary, almost half of the world’s population faces hunger or will be at risk of hunger in the next few years.
According to the numbers released by the UN, 811 million people sleep hungry every night; meanwhile, almost one-third of the food produced is wasted. This shocking contrast leaves some people in awe considering there are people who work dedicatedly just to improve food production.
Just like tech is helping the food industry produce more food, improving its quality, and boosting nutrients, experts believe that tech can also play a solid role in reducing food waste. Currently UN is estimating that by 2030 global food waste will be reduced with the use of the right technology and other methods.
A major part of reducing global food waste is to empower households with smart technology gadgets that can help people store food and stay informed about the condition of food. Smart refrigerators, smart cookers, and smart ovens are helping people control the temperature so they can improve the shelf life of food.
Since smart appliances are becoming prevalent and the need for solid connectivity is increasing so the data can be communicated in real-time, internet companies are also improving their work. With fiber internet, major internet companies are focusing on providing steady connectivity so that users do not have to worry about supporting their smart appliances.
Contents
Top 4 Ways Tech Companies are Helping in Reducing Global Food Waste
1. Tracking Food Health
Tracking food health means you need to know when you can eat the food and when it is time to discard it. In most cases, people buy food, store it in their pantry, and forget all about it. The location, storage space, and how it is stored play a very important role in reducing food waste.
However, there are apps that can help you track the food items that you already have in your pantry so you do not buy these items again. The best thing about these apps is that you will be maintaining a digital pantry on your phone, adding the expiry date, and will be able to track the kind of food you utilize the most. Eventually, you will notice that this process is helping you reduce the overall grocery bill.
2. Selling Food Easily
In most countries, there is a rule that food that has been served once will be discarded even if the customer has not touched it. Similarly, most big brands produce food in big batches with a sale estimate. Bakery items like donuts, cakes, sandwiches, and breads generally have better shelf life, so big brands prepare them in big batches for a few days. After these products go stale, they are chucked in the bin.
To avoid this issue, tech experts have come up with last-hour food sale apps. These apps help the big brands to offer their leftover food at a low price. This helps in feeding the hungry while the company does not have to throw away food. Currently, these apps are working in countries like the UK, the US, and a few European countries but after their successful operation, they are expected to scale in other countries as well.
3. Maintaining Demand and Supply
Demand and supply management is one of the biggest reasons most of the food ends up in waste. Most brands try to reduce their preparation by making food in big batches, this food is then served to everyone but since there are not clear introductions about the demand for the product, this can lead them to food waste.
To avoid this issue, big data companies are introducing the central data system for food companies. This can help the food companies in reducing food waste by understanding the demand and supply. Moreover, with precise demand and supply, they can also fill up any lag that might occur in the overall supply.
4. Using the Central Food Bank System
Most big brands have multiple franchises in the same vicinity; however, the food is prepared within the restaurants where it will be served. This leaves a lot of room for ambiguity, and by the end of the day, most of this food is left in the bin. With a central food bank system, these international multi-chain restaurants can prepare food and then track its consumption in each location. This will help them fill up the lag in the production of food or improve the food quality or quantity based on its needs.
Although this central food bank system is maintained by high-end bakeries it has yet to be used and introduced by the fast food companies that are the biggest result of food waste.
Bottom Line
Food waste is one of the biggest issues that is dividing the world and leading to serious consequences. The above-mentioned ways are some of the most effective ways that can help in reducing the global food waste.