251: Sustainable Cruises: Tackling Food Waste with IoT and AI Innovations
In this episode, Tracy talks with Robert E. Buchanan Jr., founder and CEO of ADHERE GEAR Technology Corporation, recorded during Food Waste Prevention Week 2024. This is a story about innovation meeting sustainability on the high seas. Imagine cruise ships not merely as vessels of leisure but as forerunners of eco-consciousness, navigating towards a brighter, greener future.
Selected by the European Union and Spain, ADHERE GEAR has taken on a pioneering role in the maritime market with its state-of-the-art hashtag#IoT and hashtag#AI technologies. Their mission is close to my heart: dramatically reducing food waste on cruise ships to help these floating giants sail closer to #NETZERO. With their WAVE technology, which features sensors to monitor the freshness of food in real-time, they're not just envisioning a sustainable future but actively constructing it.
In this conversation, Robert and Tracy discuss ADHERE GEAR's journey from its early days to its current mission of revolutionizing the cruise industry. We also learn why food is important to him, why he has so much passion for what happens with food, and the impact he hopes to have on the world. 🤝💡
Heard on the Episode
"Understanding the condition of your food not only reduces waste but also turns potential waste into valuable resources." ~Robert Buchanan Jr. (18:42)
"Our partnership with Ocean Exchange aims to combine technology and philanthropy for broader impact, from food quality to housing." ~Robert Buchanan Jr. (33:15)
Key Topics Discussed
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Sensors in Food Storage
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Importance of using specific sensors for different types of food.
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Tracking food conditions on a grand scale, like cruise ships.
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RFID and NFC Technology
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How non-invasive sensors gather critical data.
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Ease of implementation and chef interaction with the technology.
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Food Waste Reduction
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Strategies to utilize food optimally before spoilage.
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Reducing food waste to achieve sustainability goals.
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Sustainability and Partnerships
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Cruise industry’s focus on sustainable practices.
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Collaborations with groups like Ocean Exchange.
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Future Integration
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Potential for extending sensor usage beyond cruise ships to entire supply chains.
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Impact on Broader Maritime Practices
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Reducing the carbon footprint through effective food management.
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Role of Internet infrastructure like Starlink in supporting IoT applications.
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Key Takeaways
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Utilizing Sensors: Specifically tailored sensors can significantly reduce food waste by optimizing usage.
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RFID and NFC: Easy-to-implement technologies provide critical data to chefs and procurement officers.
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Sustainability Goals: Effective use of technology aligns with broader sustainability aspirations within the maritime industry.
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Big Data and AI Integration: Using AI to process large datasets can help predict and mitigate food degradation, setting a new standard for food quality and safety.
Tips
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Engage Early: Start implementing sensors in food storage to track conditions from the start.
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Collaboration: Partner with philanthropic organizations to enhance sustainability efforts.
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Invest in AI: Leverage AI to handle and analyze food condition data, optimizing inventory management.
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Educate Teams: Train chefs and procurement officers on using sensor data effectively.
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Visual Communication: Use images and simple data representation to convey food conditions and sustainability practices.
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Robert E Buchanan, Jr.
CEO, Co-Founder
Robert Buchanan is lucky to be a Husband to an amazing wife, Father of 2 amazing boys, and Inspirational Mission Driven Founder and CEO of a leading edge food technology start up focused on Reducing Food Loss & reinforcing sustainability in food Cargo to create a cleaner, waste Free future.
