By: Lani Furbank
We rely on technology for a variety of mundane tasks – like writing emails, listening to music, or driving to work. However, advances are frequently being made on groundbreaking technological innovations that have the power to do much more than create an emoji. When the brightest minds focus on tackling major issues facing humanity, the results have the potential to change lives. The NYC Food Policy Center has compiled a list of 13 technologies and apps that may eventually save the world.
Amp Your Good
What it is: This organization reimagines traditional food drives by creating crowd-feeding drives that allow perishable foods to be donated online.
What it’s for: Addressing food insecurity with the use of crowdsourcing.
How it works: Amp Your Good provides a platform to host crowd-feeding drives where individuals can donate by purchasing items available on the site. Amp Your Good then delivers the food to the organization in need. Individuals simply pick out the items online and Amp Your Good delivers them.
How to get it: Sign up at the Amp Your Good website.
Created by: Patrick O’Neill
Website: https://ampyourgood.com/home
Cost: Free
What can be learned from the organization: Using technology to create virtual food drives can be a more effective use of resources.
Why it has the power to change the world: It solves some of the major limitations of traditional food drives, such as the need to collect nonperishable items and the factor of proximity to the physical event.
Anaerobic Digestion
What it is: Anaerobic digestion is the process of microorganisms breaking down organic materials.
What it’s for: Addressing waste disposal and energy production.
How it works: Microorganisms break down waste in manmade digesters where no oxygen is present, and produce biogas. Biogas can be used to power engines, produce heat, or run vehicles, and the material left after anaerobic digestion can be used as a nutrient-rich fertilizer.
How to get it: Various companies utilize the process.
Created by: N/A
Website: N/A
Cost: N/A
What can be learned from the technology: Natural processes can be harnessed for human use.
Why it has the power to change the world: It simultaneously addresses the issues of waste disposal and energy production by creating two very useful byproducts from waste.
Aquaponic Farming
What it is: Aquaponic farming is a method of farming that combines fish and plant production using aquaculture and hydroponics systems.
What it’s for: Producing food using fewer inputs.
How it works: Fish are raised in tanks and their waste water is filtered and absorbed by hydroponic plants.
How to get it: Various companies and farms employ aquaponic methods.
Created by: N/A
Website: N/A
Cost: N/A
What can be learned from the method: Relying on symbiotic processes can create efficient systems for agriculture.
Why it has the power to change the world: This method of production uses fewer resources to produce food.
Bio-Bean
What it is: Bio-Bean is a company that turns coffee grounds into advanced biofuels and biochemicals.
What it’s for: Addressing waste disposal and energy production.
How it works: Bio-Bean collects waste coffee grounds and produces biomass pellets, briquettes, and eventually biodiesel and biochemicals, with the intention of reducing fossil fuel use.
How to get it: Purchase products on affiliate websites through links on the Bio-Bean website.
Created by: Arthur Kay
Website: https://www.bio-bean.com/
Cost: £7.99 for 16 logs
What can be learned from the company: Ubiquitous waste products can be repurposed in effective ways.
Why it has the power to change the world: It simultaneously addresses the issues of waste disposal and energy production by creating two useful byproducts from waste.
Copia
What it is: Copia is an app that enables businesses and events in San Francisco to donate their extra food to those in need and receive a tax write-off and a reduction in disposal costs.
What it’s for: Addressing food insecurity and food waste.
How it works: Businesses can request a pickup of their surplus food through Copia’s app. A driver arrives to pick up the food. Meanwhile, nonprofit organizations nearby that have signed up for Copia can request food donations. They will receive a phone call to accept or reject a donation, and then the food will be delivered.
How to get it: Download the app on the App Store.
Created by: Komal Ahmad
Website: https://www.gocopia.com/
Cost: Free app, volume-based fees apply for pickups for businesses at a rate of 30 to 50 cents per pound depending on frequency and volume.
What can be learned from the app: For-profit models can foster greater impact and effectiveness than nonprofit models since there isn’t a reliance on volunteers and donors.
Why it has the power to change the world: The app simultaneously prevents food waste, saves businesses money, and assists food insecure individuals.
Ethylene Devices
What it is: Ethylene absorbers are devices that remove ethylene, a natural gas emitted by produce that quickens the ripening process.
What it’s for: Reducing food waste and prolonging shelf life of produce.
How it works: Devices such as disks, strips, packets made of clay and minerals absorb ethylene as the produce emits it, preventing it from ripening the produce too quickly.
How to get it: Purchase the products from one of the many brands that offer them.
Created by: Various brands have versions.
Website: N/A
Cost: Varies by brand. The O3-Pure Fridge Deodorizer and Food Preserver device is available for $34; 3 ethylene disks from Extra Life available for $5.99 with each disk lasting 3 months.
What can be learned from the technology: Combating natural decay processes can improve shelf life and prevent food waste.
Why it has the power to change the world: These devices are a simple and cost-effective way to extend the shelf life of food items to prevent them from spoiling and being wasted.
Food Cowboy
What it is: Food Cowboy is an organization with an app that seeks to end food waste by connecting food companies around the U.S. who have food to donate with charities that support people who need food.
What it’s for: Addressing food insecurity and food waste.
How it works: Companies post food donations and locations on the app, Food Cowboy contacts charities nearby, and the company and charity arrange for a delivery, pickup, or transfer.
How to get it: Create an account on the Food Cowboy website and download the app.
Created by: Roger Gordon, Barbara Cohen, and Richard Gordon
Website: https://www.foodcowboy.com/
Cost: Free app
What can be learned from the organization: Facilitating interaction can be an effective hands-off way to prevent food waste.
Why it has the power to change the world: The app simultaneously prevents food waste, saves businesses money, and assists food insecure individuals.
Foodloop
What it is: FoodLoop is a technology that uses grocery inventory data to provide targeted deals for consumers based on when food will expire.
What it’s for: Addressing food insecurity and food waste.
How it works: Using an algorithm that considers sell-by dates, the app automatically optimizes prices to incentivize purchases. It then offers these deals to consumers based on personal preferences.
How to get it: Sign up for the beta test.
Created by: FoodLoop
Website: https://www.foodloop.net/en/
Cost: Free
What can be learned from the technology: Integration and usability are key for both companies and consumers.
Why it has the power to change the world: The app simultaneously assists those in need of affordable food options, prevents food waste at the grocery store, and saves businesses money.
Lean Path
What it is: Lean Path is a software that allows food service kitchens to monitor their food waste and see the financial impact of food waste for their business.
What it’s for: Reducing food waste.
How it works: Lean Path’s automated software tracks food waste and provides suggestions for how to reduce it and increase profit.
How to get it: Request a demo or purchase services through the Lean Path website.
Created by: Andrew Shakman, Bill Leppo, and Stephen Rogers
Website: https://www.leanpath.com/
Cost: Varies based on services.
What can be learned from the software: When put into terms of profit, businesses may be more likely to support measures to reduce food waste.
Why it has the power to change the world: The software relates profit to kitchen habits in order to incentivize preventing waste.
LifeStraw
What it is: LifeStraw is a line of products that filter out almost all of the microbiological contaminants that make water unsafe to drink. It was designed for people in developing countries who don’t have access to safe water, as well as for emergency situations when water is contaminated after natural disasters.
What it’s for: Improving access to clean water.
How it works: The devices use a cloth filter to instantly filter out contaminants in water. The products range from personal straw-like devices to larger-form filters.
How to get it: Purchase products on the LifeStraw website.
Created by: Vestergaard; Mikkel Vestergaard Frandsen – current CEO
Website: https://lifestraw.com/
Cost: $9.95-$329.95, depending on product
What can be learned from the product: Products originally intended to prevent a specific problem (Guinea worm larvae) can be adapted for wider uses.
Why it has the power to change the world: The products are simple, affordable, and effective at purifying drinking water.
Olio
What it is: Olio is an app that connects people and retailers to facilitate the sharing of surplus food.
What it’s for: Addressing food insecurity and food waste.
How it works: Users can post items on the app to give away and others can view the items and request what they want. Users can arrange exchanges in person or utilize Olio drop boxes in local establishments.
How to get it: Download the app on the App Store or Google Play.
Created by: Saasha Celestial-One and Tessa Cook
Website: https://olioex.com/
Cost: App is free.
What can be learned from the app: Accessible social forums can manifest altruism in local communities.
Why it has the power to change the world: The app allows people to interact and share excess products that will benefit others.
Sample6 Detect and Sample6 Control
What it is: Sample6 Detect is technology that identifies pathogens in food production, while Sample6 Control is software that provides a way to manage food safety monitoring.
What it’s for: Improving food safety.
How it works: Sample6 Detect collects samples, processes them, and detects pathogens such as listeria. Sample6 Control provides a detailed framework for companies to analyze and monitor their food safety benchmarks.
How to get it: Start a free trial or purchase the products through the Sample6 website.
Created by: Sample6
Website: https://sample6.com/
Cost: Fee varies based on services.
What can be learned from the technology: The use of technology can streamline testing and management processes in food safety.
Why it has the power to change the world: The technology can simplify important food safety measures and make them more efficient, limiting the risk of food contamination and reducing the level of effort required.
Photo Credit: Olio
