5 Emerging Technologies That Help Reduce Food Waste

Americans discard 30-40% of the nation’s food supply, which equates to one pound of food wasted per person, per day. Globally, we waste 1.4 billion tons of food every year. These statistics are shocking. Food waste has an environmental impact, leads to food insecurity, and wastes natural resources. In response, some powerful technologies have emerged, which each help to reduce food waste.

1. Smart Food Packaging

Smart food packaging is a broad term referring new to innovative packaging concepts. Smart food packaging is defined as ‘active’ or ‘intelligent’. Active packaging changes the condition of packaged foods to extend their shelf life and maintain their quality. Intelligent packaging is packaging with intelligent functionality; with a focus to inform consumers about food quality and safety. More than 80% of Americans discard good food because they misunderstand expiration labels. So the innovation and clarity smart food packaging technology brings is important. The technology, although still new, holds great potential when it comes to the real-time monitoring of food throughout the supply chain.

2. Blockchain

Blockchain technology has great potential to reduce food waste too. According to Forbes Magazine, via blockchain technology,  “we can better match supply to demand to avoid the current mismatch between these that leads to food loss”. Because blockchain food software brings greater visibility across the entire food supply chain. A secure digital ledger, the technology shares real time information, empowering decision making and reducing food waste. 

3. ERP Software 

Many food manufacturing companies investing in ERP (Electronic Resource Planning) software and demand planning software to help reduce waste in their supply chains. The software accurately tells its users precisely where and when products are needed via strong data. 

4. Biotech

Innovations in biotech now serve to improve the appearance of food and beverages, and make them less likely to be thrown away. US-based Apeel Sciences have created an edible coating for fruits and vegetables, that decreases the rate of degradation and makes the produce more appealing for longer. In a similar manner, Hazel Technologies have devised a small product that is placed inside food packaging which releases an odour and delays ripening. 

5. Reducing Recalls Via Traceability Software 

Although recalled foods only account for a small portion of the food waste that ends up in landfill each year, powerful technology exists to mitigate the impact of food recalls. Traceability software provides information on the real-tome location of products, so in the event of contamination you can respond swiftly and decisively, meeting the requirements instituted by the FDA. This process used to be complicated and time consuming, but now leading traceability software can automate the process for you. 

Every year there are roughly 700 FDA managed recalls. As a result, the industry suffers an average economic loss of $10 million per recall. Furthermore, only 33% of consumers now trust the safety of their food. If your food and beverage company is looking to scale and grow via ERP solutions, traceability and demand planing software, whilst meeting all the FDA requirements, get in touch with Cashmere today.