AgTech to limit loss at the farming level
FOOD WASTE
AgTech to limit loss at the farming level
Technology is increasingly being used at an agricultural level ( AgTech ), to tackle the huge issue of loss and spoilage at the earliest stage of supply chain – farming .
Predictions estimate that 15.3 %, or 1.2 billion tonnes , of food produced around the world is lost during harvest or slaughter operations , according to a report by WWF-UK .
Contrary to the widely held belief that farm-stage food loses are acute in lowerincome regions , the report finds that 58 % of global farm-stage food waste actually occurs in the middle- and high-income regions , despite their higher on-farm mechanisation , better infrastructure and more advanced agronomic practices .
Having recently landed US $ 10m in funding , IoT grain-monitoring startup TeleSense uses IoT sensors along with app work to continuously monitor grain and send automatic alerts to users , subsequently mitigating spoilage and insect infestation .
While British tech startup RoboScientific has created a device that detects minute changes in volatile organic compounds that livestock and plants emit , which could potentially indicate sickness or spoilage , similar to how a robotic nose might work . This helps agriculturists contain disease or spoilage before it spreads too far and therefore minimise food waste .
“ Food waste is a complex , but solvable issue that requires engagement from everyone across the food system ,” says Dana Gunders , Executive Director , ReFED . “ From creating more public awareness , to technology innovation , to reevaluating waste-ridden business models , the topic of food waste is finally starting to take centre stage . But a massive acceleration in effort is needed to reach the 2030 food waste reduction goals . That ’ s why we ’ re excited to see growing excitement around the space .”
100 February 2022