STELLENBOSCH - The food industry is the latest sector to tap into artificial intelligence (AI) in an effort to curb hunger.
Research shows that 63 percent of households in South Africa do not have enough food, while up to 17,000 tonnes of fruit and vegetables are discarded annually at wholesale markets.
Dr Ikwechukwu Opara from Stellenbosch University says food waste and loss is a serious problem, caused by multiple factors from the time fresh produce leaves the farm until it reaches households.
He explains that enzymatic reactions, not visible to the naked eye, are already at play before produce leaves farms, accelerating spoilage. This makes immediate intervention critical to ensure food is saved before it reaches markets.
“If we can get our cold storage infrastructure right, then we can save a lot of food,” he says.
Opara notes that the South African government is doing relatively well in supporting cold-chain initiatives. However, he says more needs to be done at fresh produce wholesale markets, where storage conditions are not always optimal.
Supermarkets, he adds, are better positioned as they have their own storage systems. Wholesale markets, however, remain a weak point in the supply chain.
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Summer also poses a challenge for fruit and vegetable suppliers, as surplus production increases the risk of waste.
“South Africa has the biggest fresh produce market in Africa,” says Opara, adding that this makes improved storage and monitoring systems even more critical.
The use of AI technology to monitor the movement of produce from farms to markets -- including temperature control, forecasting, operations, and logistics -- could go a long way in reducing waste and helping regulate food prices.