Blockchain technology can be used to re-distribute surplus food.
In the U.S. alone, 133 billion pounds of food is wasted every year. The extra food can potentially feed hundreds of families who struggle with hunger.
Did you know that every landfill has at least 27% food waste which causes methane emissions? Even more disturbingly, $218 billion dollars per year goes into the production, conveyance and removal of unconsumed food. The above data is taken from the Natural Resources Defense Council.
Blockchain Technology to help monitor excess food
Blockchain technology, as an online ledger which records all transactions and which shares data among registered users, is ideal for tracking and distributing surplus food. Businesses and restaurants can be connected to local charities using blockchain technology and the organizations can communicate their needs at any time through the online ledger.
A company called Goodr in Atlanta uses blockchain technology to help arrange the distribution of leftovers from restaurants to local charities through an app. Jasmine Crowe, Founder and CEO of Goodr, says that businesses can arrange pick-ups, track deliveries on the app and also view data regarding the type of food being delivered. On the app, businesses send a signal when they have extra food and are linked with local non-profits. The businesses can then package the food and track its delivery.
Crowe said –
“Our hope is definitely like most social good companies; [it] is that we’re able to work ourselves out of business. But one of the things that we do see is that there’s really not a lot of predictability in large scale food service.”
Crowe personally watched a friend struggle with food security. The experience moved Crowe and prompted her to start the business –
“Having experienced that first-hand really shifted perspective for me, because, for years I was feeding members of our homeless community. I didn’t understand that the face of hunger was readily changing.”
The Goodr app collects data about what type of food gets wasted the most, information about community connectors and environmental impacts. The information can also be used by food businesses to reduce money-loss and food wastage.
Blockchain technology has several potential applications in community services and food waste management is just the beginning.
In the U.S. alone, 133 billion pounds of food is wasted every year. Holy Shit that´s really a lot.
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