Turning the Tide on Food Waste: Cutting-Edge Preservation and Repurposing Technologies

Food preservation is the holy grail in the quest to combat food loss and waste, a challenge that looms particularly large in Africa. Post-harvest losses are staggering in regions grappling with inadequate infrastructure and logistical hurdles. For instance, Professor Jane Ambuko of the University of Nairobi reveals that nearly 50% of Kenya's fresh produce is lost during this critical stage. This alarming statistic underscores a paradox where substantial food waste exists alongside pervasive food insecurity. With 783 million people experiencing hunger and a third of the global population struggling with food insecurity, there is an urgent need for innovative solutions to meet SDG target 12.3, which seeks to halve global food waste by 2030.

Innovative Technologies Transforming Food Preservation

1. Smart Packaging Solutions

Smart packaging integrates sensors and indicators that monitor the condition of food products in real-time. These technologies can track temperature, humidity, and gas composition, providing vital data that helps maintain optimal storage conditions. For instance, time-temperature indicators (TTIs) change color based on cumulative exposure to temperature, alerting stakeholders when the product may have deteriorated. This proactive approach enables timely interventions, reducing spoilage and extending shelf life.

2. Controlled Atmosphere Storage (CAS)

Controlled Atmosphere Storage involves regulating the composition of gases surrounding the stored produce. By adjusting oxygen, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen levels, CAS slows down the respiration rate of fruits and vegetables, delaying ripening and senescence. This technique is particularly effective for apples, bananas, and other climacteric fruits, significantly reducing post-harvest losses and maintaining quality during transportation and storage.

3. Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP)

Like CAS, Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) alters the gas composition within packaging materials to extend the freshness of food products. By creating a specific environment around the food, MAP slows down microbial growth and enzymatic reactions that lead to spoilage. This method is widely used for perishable items like meat, dairy, and fresh produce, ensuring they remain safe and appealing for longer periods.

4. Nanotechnology in Food Preservation

Nanotechnology offers novel approaches to enhancing food preservation. Nano-coatings and nano-encapsulated preservatives can provide antimicrobial properties, preventing the growth of spoilage organisms. Additionally, nanotechnology-enabled sensors can detect contaminants and spoilage indicators at early stages, allowing for swift corrective actions. These innovations contribute to safer, longer-lasting food products with reduced reliance on traditional preservatives.

5. High-Pressure Processing (HPP)?

HPP is another cutting-edge food preservation technology that plays a significant role in combating food loss and waste. HPP is a non-thermal method that uses high pressure to eliminate pathogens and spoilage organisms in food, extending shelf life and preserving the food’s nutritional value, taste, and texture.

HPP works by applying extremely high pressure, typically between 400 and 600 MPa (megaPascals), to food products, equivalent to about 4,000 to 6,000 times atmospheric pressure. This intense pressure disrupts the cellular structure of bacteria, yeasts, molds, and viruses, effectively inactivating them without needing heat, which typically occurs with conventional pasteurization methods. HPP can be integrated with other food preservation technologies, such as intelligent packaging and AI-driven analytics, to create even more robust solutions.?

Natural Preservatives

Natural preservatives are gaining traction as a healthier and more environmentally friendly way to extend the shelf life of food. These preservatives, derived from natural sources such as plants, herbs, and essential oils, inhibit the growth of bacteria and mold without the need for synthetic chemicals. For example, rosemary extract is a powerful antioxidant that can prevent rancidity in meats and oils, while chitosan, derived from crustacean shells, has antimicrobial properties that can be used to preserve fresh produce. By incorporating natural preservatives, food manufacturers can maintain product quality and reduce spoilage, ultimately leading to less food waste.

Moreover, as discussed in the previous episode of this series, Artificial Intelligence plays a pivotal role in optimising food preservation by leveraging predictive analytics. AI algorithms can analyse vast amounts of data from various sources—such as weather patterns, storage conditions, and supply chain logistics—to forecast potential spoilage risks. By predicting these risks, AI enables stakeholders to make informed decisions about storage, transportation, and distribution, thereby minimizing waste and ensuring food reaches consumers in optimal condition.

On the other hand, blockchain technology enhances transparency and traceability across the food supply chain. This transparency helps identify and address points where spoilage or loss might occur, facilitating timely interventions and fostering trust among consumers and producers alike. These seemingly novel innovations take the above-discussed preservation techniques to a new level in the fight against food loss.?

Players Leading the Charge

Across the globe, numerous organizations are pioneering these technologies to mitigate food loss and waste:

Mimica (UK): Specializing in smart labels, Mimica develops indicators that change colour based on the freshness of perishable goods. These labels provide real-time information about the condition of food products, helping retailers and consumers make informed decisions and reduce waste.

Apeel Sciences (USA): Apeel creates plant-based coatings that naturally preserve produce by slowing down the ripening process. Their innovative solutions extend the shelf life of fruits and vegetables, reducing spoilage and enhancing sustainability.

Hazel Technologies (USA): Hazel offers intelligent packaging inserts that release active compounds to slow down produce degradation. These compounds temporarily block ethylene receptors in fruits and veggies, keeping the inflow and outflow of O2 and CO2 gases at optimal levels to maintain the quality of fruits and vegetables throughout the supply chain.

Zest Labs (USA): Utilizing AI and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies, Zest Labs provides real-time monitoring of produce conditions during transportation and storage. Their platform ensures that produce is consumed while still fresh, reducing waste and improving supply chain efficiency.

Avure Technologies (USA): A leading provider of HPP equipment, Avure Technologies supplies food producers with the machinery necessary to implement HPP, enabling them to offer high-quality, safe products with extended shelf life.

ColdHubs (Nigeria): ColdHubs is a game-changer in rural refrigeration, designed for off-grid functionality. Their solar-powered cold storage units allow farmers to store perishable goods safely, reducing reliance on immediate markets and minimizing spoilage due to inadequate storage facilities.

Twiga Foods (Kenya): Twiga Foods leverages technology to streamline the agricultural supply chain. By connecting farmers directly with vendors through a digital platform, Twiga reduces inefficiencies and ensures that produce reaches markets swiftly, thereby decreasing the likelihood of post-harvest losses.

Farmshine (Kenya): Farmshine provides a digital marketplace that links smallholder farmers with buyers. By facilitating timely transactions and deliveries, Farmshine ensures farmers can sell their produce before it deteriorates, enhancing profitability and reducing waste.

Apps and Platforms for Consumers

In a world with an app for almost anything, apps and platforms are revolutionizing how consumers approach food consumption. They offer innovative solutions for meal planning, expiration tracking, and food sharing, thus reducing waste and promoting sustainability.

Food Sharing Apps and Platforms

Food-sharing apps foster community-driven approaches to reducing food waste by connecting those with surplus food to those in need. These are by far my favorite set of apps. They play a crucial role in waste reduction, community building, and supporting food security.

Olio (United Kingdom): This app allows users to share excess food with their neighbours, helping to reduce household food waste and build stronger community ties.

Too Good To Go (Denmark) Partners with restaurants, bakeries, and supermarkets to sell unsold food at discounted prices, rescuing meals that would otherwise go to waste. It is also available in more than ten other European countries.?

Food for All Africa Program (Ghana): This platform connects food donors, including restaurants and supermarkets, with charities and NGOs, redistributing surplus food to vulnerable populations and enhancing food security.

Meal Planning and Shopping Apps

One of the most effective ways to reduce food waste is to plan meals and shopping trips more efficiently. These apps ensure that ingredients are utilized before they spoil, making meal preparation more sustainable.

Mealime (Canada): An intuitive app that helps users create personalized meal plans and generate shopping lists, making grocery shopping more efficient and reducing food waste at the household level.

Paprika (United States): A versatile app that suggests recipes based on available ingredients, helps users manage pantry inventory, and generates shopping lists, ensuring all ingredients are used before expiration.

Chowberry (Nigeria): This groundbreaking platform connects consumers with retailers offering discounted food items nearing expiration. This provides affordable food options for consumers and reduces food waste retailers generate.

Expiration Date Trackers

Expiration date trackers are essential tools for managing food inventory and preventing waste. These apps notify users when items are nearing expiration, ensuring food is consumed before spoiling. Some also suggest recipes to use up ingredients and even offer tips on how to store food properly and extend its shelf life.

FoodKeeper (United States): Developed by the USDA, this app helps users maximize the freshness and quality of their food by providing guidance on storage and sending reminders about approaching expiration dates.

Fridgely (United States): An expiration date tracker that notifies users when items are nearing expiration and suggests recipes to help use them up, minimizing food waste in the home.

Flashfood (United States & Canada): An innovative app that partners with grocery stores to sell surplus food at a discount. Users can browse through a selection of items nearing their sell-by dates and purchase them directly through the app.?

Now, these lists are by no means exhaustive. Many more innovations continue to light our universe with genius solutions to the problems of food loss and waste and to so many other challenges that plague our society.??

Recycling and Repurposing: From Trash to Treasure

Even with the best efforts, some food waste is inevitable, but that doesn’t mean it has to end up in a landfill. In the world of upcycling, waste is just another word for opportunity. IntelliDigest and WASE are pioneering anaerobic digestion technologies that convert food waste into energy and other valuable by-products. Olleco and Quatra UK are leaders in transforming waste oil into biodiesel, contributing to a circular economy. Meanwhile, Bio-bean is turning coffee grounds into biofuels, and Chip[s]Board is creating sustainable materials from potato waste.

Toast Ale and Rubies in the Rubble are transforming surplus bread and blemished fruits into craft beer and gourmet condiments, respectively. Entocycle is turning food waste into insect protein for animal feed, while Kernel Mycofood is using food waste to cultivate sustainable mushrooms. Elysia, Pi?atex, FRUU, and Upcircle are creating cosmetics and fashion products from food by-products, proving that food waste can be as stylish as it is sustainable. Biohm and LEAP Micro AD are even turning food waste into building materials, leading the charge in sustainable construction.

The Road Ahead: Adoption and Impact

The impact of these innovations is already being felt, but there’s still a long way to go. The adoption rate varies by region and sector, with Europe and North America leading in technological implementation. However, as awareness grows and technology becomes more accessible, we can expect to see these solutions spread globally, making a notable dent in the food waste crisis.

In any case you missed our intro, find it here!!