Artificial Intelligence is being used to redistribute 1.5 million surplus meals as part of an Innovate UK project involving Nestlé, the world’s largest food manufacturer, and the charity FareShare.
Some 4.6 million tonnes of edible food, equivalent to 10 billion meals, is wasted in the UK each year. The new AI food redistribution pilot will use Zest’s (formerly The Wonki Collective) integrated AI powered platform to connect food manufacturers, logistics providers and charities in a bid to streamline and accelerate the process of matching available surplus food, including products and ingredients, to where there is demand.
Once tested, the “AI food redistribution” solution could be applied at scale across the food supply chain, and offers commercial and charitable opportunities for the entire sector, according to those involved.
The consortium expects to redistribute up to 700 tonnes of quality surplus food (the equivalent of up to 1.5 million meals) and prevent up to 1,400tCO2e. Cost savings are estimated at around £14m. Earlier trials delivered an 87% reduction in edible food waste at a single Nestlé factory over a two-week period.
