In the world of food, a cool new tool is helping to stop food from being wasted. It’s made by a British company called OneThird. Their gadget checks how fresh fruits are before they even hit the shelves of grocery stores.
Gone are the days of uncertainty surrounding the shelf life of perishable goods. OneThird’s innovative technology utilizes light to penetrate fruits such as strawberries, tomatoes, avocados, and blueberries, analyzing their molecular composition with remarkable precision. By deciphering the intricate configurates of water, sugars, ethyls, and alcohols, algorithms calculate the exact number of days before a fruit reaches its peak freshness.
The implications of this technology extend far beyond the supermarket aisles. With a more accurate understanding of each fruit’s remaining shelf life, suppliers and retailers can make informed decisions regarding its distribution and utilization. No longer will perfectly edible produce be relegated to landfills due to a lack of clarity about is freshness.
The significance of OneThird’s device becomes even more apparent when considering the staggering statistics surrounding food waste. Approximately one-third of all food produced globally ends up being discarded, contributing to both economic losses and environmental degradation. By providing insights into the freshness of fruits, OneThird aims to alleviate this issue, offering a solution that benefits producers, retailers, and consumers alike.
Moreover, the implications of reducing food waste extend beyond mere financial considerations. By minimizing the resources expended in the production of wasted food, such as water, land and fertilizer, OneThird’s technology promotes sustainability and environmental stewardship. Additionally, by diverting edible food away from landfills, where it would decompose and release harmful methane gas, the device contributes to mitigating climate change.
OneThird’s portable scanners, originally inspired by technology developed in the medical sector, represent a fusion of innovation and practicality.
Founder and CEO of OneThird, Marco Snikkers, told Fast Company Magazine, “I dove in and looked at the challenges in the food supply chain, which is kind of broken. We started to talk to people in the industry and found out that 40% of food waste is fresh produce. One of the biggest causes of waste is that nobody knows shelf life.”
While the current capabilities of the device focus on a select range of fruits, including strawberries, tomatoes, avocados, and blueberries, the company plans to expand its repertoire to include additional varieties such as grapes, bananas, mangoes, and raspberries in the near future.
The beauty of OneThird’s approach lies in its recognition of the unique molecular fingerprint of each fruit. By acknowledging that the optional shelf life varies depending on the specific characteristics of the fruit, the device ensures that decisions regarding its utilization are tailored and precise.
Whether it be diverting fruits nearing their expiration to canning companies or adjusting discount timings in grocery stores, the device empowers stakeholders to make strategic choices that minimize waste while maximizing value.
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