Almost one-third of the food produced globally is wasted. Meanwhile, over 800 million people struggle to find enough nutritious meals. This stark reality pushed Somdip Dey, a machine learning scientist from the University of Essex, and Suman Saha, a computer engineering student from the University of Engineering & Management in India, to take action. They co-developed the Nosh app to tackle food waste.
Dey reflects on his childhood in India, where his family made it a point not to waste food. When he moved to the UK, he was shocked to see so much food thrown away. With his background in artificial intelligence, he realized he could create a solution. Thus, Nosh was born, designed to help people manage their food better and reduce waste at home. The app features shopping planning, recipe suggestions, and smart analytics that guide users in making informed food choices.
Since its launch, Nosh has attracted over 17,000 users on both Android and iOS. Together, they’ve saved more than 186,000 food items and cut down carbon emissions by 120 metric tons. The success led Dey and Saha to establish Nosh Technologies in 2021, a company that focuses on creating tech solutions to combat food waste and promote sustainability.
Dey emphasizes the importance of combining profit with social responsibility. They aim to create a lasting impact on the environment for future generations. Their goal aligns with the United Nations’ target to halve global food loss and waste by 2030. Nosh Technologies is dedicated to developing innovative solutions to support this mission.
Recently, the team created a machine learning algorithm called SmartNoshWaste, designed for future smart cities to minimize waste in the food supply chain. This work has been published in the Smart Cities journal. Initial tests indicate it can significantly reduce food waste in the supply chain by almost 10%. Additionally, the Nosh app has been updated with features like Nosh Daily and Nosh Shop, helping users stay informed about food news and access discounted products from local vendors.
Dey also notes that while many consumers are aware of the Nosh app, the team is working on new technologies using AI and blockchain to also assist farmers, warehouse managers, and shopkeepers. Their mission is to transform the food supply chain and promote sustainability at every level.
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Technology, AI, GenAI, ML, Food
