The platform uses Google Cloud’s BigQuery and Vertex AI to quickly match surplus food with demand, while Bristol Superlight’s AI-driven logistics tracks and ensures food quality throughout delivery.
Nestlé UK&I, Google Cloud, and food charities including FareShare and Zest have unveiled what is pitched as a first-of-its-kind AI solution designed to help identify and redistribute up to 1.5 million surplus meals to UK communities.
The initiative, part of Innovate UK’s £1.9 million BridgeAI programme, connects food manufacturers, logistics providers and charities using AI (Google Cloud’s Vertex AI and BigQuery) to cut waste, reduce emissions and drive systemic food chain change.
This solution, spearheaded by climate tech firm Sustainable Ventures, is already showing promise, according to those involved: at one Nestlé factory, early Zest tech trials cut food waste by 87% in just two weeks.
The collaboration sees the development and piloting of Zest’s (formerly The Wonki Collective) integrated AI-powered platform that will connect food manufacturers, logistics providers and charities, redefining supply chain efficiency.
The platform leverages Google Cloud’s BigQuery and Vertex AI to streamline and accelerate the process of matching available surplus food, including products and ingredients, to where there is demand. Bristol Superlight’s integrated AI/ML driven logistics system enables the quality of surplus food to be measured and tracked throughout its delivery journey.
Once tested, the solution could be applied at scale across the food supply chain and offers commercial and charitable opportunities for the entire sector.
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Simon Brown, Corporate Innovation Partner of Sustainable Ventures, said, “We believe in the power of collaboration. Bringing together this fantastic group of stakeholders will reduce the time and risk taken to develop this new AI food supply chain management platform, whilst providing a market-ready solution that can be rolled out across the industry.”
“We are here to bring together corporates with climate tech startups, finding ways to derisk the process and enable sustainable, innovative and commercial solutions to enter the market. This project is only the beginning; watch this space.”
Dr Emma Keller, Head of Sustainability Nestlé UK & Ireland, said, “As the world’s largest food manufacturer, it is important for us at Nestlé to set an example on food waste.”
“This exciting cross-industry initiative builds on work we have undertaken over the last decade to tackle food waste and will enable us to further optimise surplus within our operations. With the country suffering from historically high food poverty and food insecurity rates while food waste continues to rise, focusing on this is the right thing for us as a business to do.”
Dini McGrath, Co-Founder of Zest (formerly The Wonki Collective), commented, “Our mission from day one has been to empower food manufacturers to design out food waste, and we’ve always known this vast challenge requires collaboration.”
“We’re ecstatic to be working with some incredible powerhouses to support us in achieving our vision. As with most things in life, collaboration is key – together, we are stronger. This milestone brings us closer to our shared goal of building a more transparent and sustainable food system.”
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