Food waste poses a significant challenge across all phases of the supply chain, impacting farms, factories, supermarkets, and households. According to the United Nations (UN), approximately 13% of globally produced food is lost between harvest and retail, with an additional 17% wasted in households, food service, and retail settings.
As a UN spokesperson highlights, “Food loss and waste undermine the sustainability of our food system. When food is lost or wasted, all the resources that were used to produce this food – including water, land, energy, labour and capital – go to waste. In addition, the disposal of food loss and waste in landfills leads to greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to climate change. Food loss and waste can also negatively impact food security and food availability and contribute to increasing the cost of food.”
Furthermore, the financial implications of this issue are staggering. The World Food Programme (WFP) estimates that food loss and waste costs around one trillion USD annually, placing a substantial burden on the global economy and exacerbating food distribution trends.
To address the multifaceted factors contributing to food waste, innovative solutions are essential. One such factor is the reliance on ‘use by’ dates, which can lead to premature disposal of still-viable food.
Senoptica Technologies has developed advanced optical sensors that monitor the in-pack atmosphere. This cutting-edge food processing technology enables food manufacturers, retailers, and consumers to assess the freshness of products without depending on predetermined ‘use by’ dates. Such innovations not only enhance food safety but also provide clear indications of when food is no longer safe for consumption.
“Senoptica Technologies is a sensor technology and analytics company on a mission to reduce global food waste,” states co-founder and CEO, Brendan Rice. “Optical sensors created from patented food-safe ink that are easily printed into packs to non-invasively monitor in pack atmosphere.”
