Applying Business Intelligence to Minimize Food Waste across
U.S. Agricultural and Retail Supply Chains
Affiliations
1
Computer Science & Engineering, Bangladesh University of Business and Technology (BUBT), N/A
Abstract
In the United States, food waste remains a significant challenge, with roughly one-third of
all food produced for human consumption going to waste. This not only exacerbates issues
related to food insecurity but also leads to economic inefficiency and environmental
damage. Artificial Intelligence (AI) offers promising solutions to address these concerns
by improving predictions of food spoilage and optimizing supply chain management. AI
technologies, including machine learning models, predictive analytics, and advanced
algorithms, can accurately forecast spoilage, thereby reducing waste. Key innovations
include systems for early detection of spoilage indicators, dynamic algorithms that adjust
storage conditions, and predictive models for waste forecasting based on real-time
environmental data. Case studies, such as those from Shelf Engine and Afresh, show
notable improvements, with a 14.8% reduction in food waste per store and a decrease of
26,705 tons of CO2 emissions. IKEA also achieved a 30% reduction in kitchen food waste
within a year using AI-powered monitoring systems. However, challenges remain in data
collection, model training, and integrating AI with existing food management systems.
These include issues with data quality, legacy system compatibility, and regulatory hurdles.
The paper concludes by offering recommendations for future research, advocating for
collaboration across disciplines to create standardized data protocols, enhance real-time
mo...
Keywords:
Food waste, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine learning, Predictive
analytics, Supply chain management, Spoilage detection