How Technology Is Helping Reduce Food Waste
The amount of food waste people throw away is an increasingly preventable issue. It is even more common for households nowadays to have a composting system, whether it’s a countertop appliance or a worm bin.
However, many homes can still reduce the food waste they generate, and corporations have a greater responsibility to improve their waste management strategies. These are modern ways technology is preventing waste from piling in landfills.
1. Introducing Good Germs
Many may assume food waste primarily comes from households tossing boring leftovers. Yet, many other factors, such as contamination and foodborne illness, are also at play. When companies can detect these hazards, it results in countless pounds of wasted food. The bacteria responsible for these problems also cause food spoilage.
Researchers are discovering microorganisms from plants to combat these harmful species organically, thereby reducing food waste and the need for chemicals.
2. Installing Smart Cameras in Fridges
Someone may accidentally put the potatoes with the onions, or leave a bag of market-fresh produce at the back of the top shelf, unseen by anyone. An old jar of sauce, a plastic container of leftovers, and other dubious items litter fridges. They start to bruise or collect mold, making it even harder to dispose of.
Smart cameras in fridges notify households when items are starting to spoil. It encourages families to adopt the first-in-first-out method and improve their food storage to prevent spoilage and rot.
3. Improving Harvesting Robots
Massive farms rely on automation and equipment to pick crops. Sometimes, their aggressive nature leads to more food waste. Additionally, some robots and machinery overlook certain produce, leaving it to spoil in the field. Better robots could handle food with more precision than humans, enhancing a farm’s productivity.
Engineers are crafting more advanced robots that handle delicate produce with greater finesse. They would be able to pick a tiny strawberry without squishing it, and sort different grades of vegetables with greater accuracy.
Picking machines equipped with artificial intelligence and sensors can identify the optimal time to choose food using their cameras. When food is picked at peak ripeness, it remains at peak quality for longer.
4. Feeding Scraps to Hungry Bugs
Creating dinner for particular species of flies and worms may not sound like a revolutionary technology. Still, experts are working to find the ideal conditions to do so to reduce food waste. The process is called bioconversion, in which scraps can be transformed into various useful products, such as biofuels or animal feed. Infrastructure is still being developed to make this strategy producible at an industrial scale, but early results indicate it is a promising prospect.
Ideas like this must become more common in food production and distribution to promote a circular economy. Companies should develop models that minimize waste. The shift could even reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2050, prompting other competitors to follow suit.
5. Making Packaging Colorful
It can be challenging to know when food has gone stale or spoiled. Some people throw away perfectly usable food due to safety concerns. Color-changing food packaging technology could alleviate uncertainty, enabling more food to reach the dinner table.
One study reviewed a film that responded to changes in the food’s pH levels. A change in pH is one of many signs that something may be going wrong. Visual indicators could help households become more aware of what foods look and smell like when they become unsafe.
6. Giving Food a Better Bath
Washing food is essential for removing debris and other potential health hazards. Others take it a step further, submerging their produce in jars filled with water or using similar methods to keep it crisp and fresh.
Scientists are exploring the potential of electrolyte-infused water to help eliminate germs that contribute to food waste. This innovation can help businesses handling large amounts of product extend the shelf life of fruits and vegetables before they get to grocery stores.
Scrapping the Idea of Food Scraps
Whether households donate meals or compost their peels, every intentional way to repurpose food scraps is essential for the planet. The greenhouse gas emissions from landfills are substantial, so new technologies and strategies can help reduce their impact. Spreading awareness of these innovations will help encourage their adoption, which is crucial to establishing a better relationship with food and food waste.
