Advanced Technology Is Tackling Waste All Along The Food Chain

Technology is playing an increasingly important role in dealing with America’s $218 billion annual food waste problem. It is being gradually implemented upstream to track food as it moves from farm to processor to distributor to store. At the other end of the line, where disposal happens, innovations such as digesters (Waste 2-0 left) provide alternatives to landfill and “waste-to-energy.” A key to wasting less food is understanding how much food is being wasted and what percentage of the available food that represents. Farmers, processors, restaurants, bakeries and others can use this information to better understand the financial costs and implement solutions. Older technology also plays a role: refrigeration, freezing, and drying all extend the shelf life of food to prevent waste. [Image Credit: © Mechline]