Food waste is a huge problem in the United States and globally. According to Insider , about 30% to 40% of food in the United States is not eaten and is thrown away. Much of that wasted food ends up in landfills instead of being processed.
To combat this waste, companies are training AI to analyze restaurant waste and grocery store purchases to determine which foods — and how much of them — are being thrown away. They can then use the data to decide whether to buy less of a given product based on how much is sold or consumed versus thrown away.
For example, Afresh uses AI to track inventory and grocery shopping. The company aims to “eliminate food waste and make nutritious food more accessible,” according to CEO Matt Schwartz.
Winnow takes a similar approach to restaurants. The company installs cameras above trash cans, which are then monitored by AI to assess what food goes to waste and how much is thrown away.
With the data in hand, restaurants can buy less food that’s going into the trash, or even remove it from the menu entirely. Winnow says it has helped restaurant kitchens cut purchasing costs by up to 8 percent by monitoring trash and waste disposal.
The problem of food waste is real, especially as the global population grows, expected to exceed 9 billion by 2050. People living in poverty spend 50% to 80% of their income on food, according to the United Nations Environment Programme. Reducing food waste can reduce pressure on water supplies and reduce deforestation, the agency said.
(According to Insider)
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