Cold Chain Giant Lineage in Post-Harvest Losses Move
In a bold move to combat global food waste, Lineage, a major temperature-controlled logistics provider, has launched an international competition to reduce post-harvest losses.
The Food Chain Innovation Challenge is an international competition that calls on students and start-ups to develop cutting-edge solutions for postharvest losses, a critical issue highlighted by the UN's 2024 report revealing 1.05bn tonnes of food was wasted in 2022.
The challenge, set to unfold across London, Amsterdam, and San Francisco, aims to foster sustainable innovations that could revolutionise the food supply chain.
By tapping into fresh perspectives, Lineage seeks to address one of the world's most pressing problems while promoting sustainable development in food.
Lineage's groundbreaking food-spoilage move
Lineage's Food Chain Innovation Challenge invites ground-breaking solutions to tackle global postharvest food spoilage.
Building on the success of last year's Hackathon that brainstormed innovation to tackle food waste and global impact in sustainable food logistics, this initiative too promises to nurture creative and ground breaking ideas.
Participants will present affordable, scalable methods to enhance food security, quality, and market access across diverse economies.
Regional winners will secure cash prizes, with the overall champion gaining entry to a tailored incubator programme and this opportunity will hone their business acumen and help scale their solution effectively.
- Reducing food waste: introducing farm-to-market loss reduction strategies
- Innovative food preservation: proposing novel longevity-enhancing methods
- Access to nutritious food: improving distribution logistics in underserved areas
- Data-driven insights: employing analytics and IoT to optimise supply chains
This challenge offers innovators the chance to create lasting impact in the global food supply chain.
Major Food Companies joining the Lineage Food Chain Innovation Challenge
The Food Chain Innovation Challenge has garnered impressive support from industry giants.
- Walmart: the retail company, has backed the initiative, bringing its vast grocery expertise to the table.
- Tyson Foods: a major player in the protein sector, has joined the fray, highlighting the meat industry's commitment to waste reduction.
- Dole: the multinational fruit and vegetable producer, has lent its support, offering crucial insights from the fresh produce sector where spoilage is a pressing concern.
- Kroger: one of America's largest supermarket chains, has also thrown its hat into the ring, underscoring the grocery sector's growing focus on sustainability.
These industry leaders have pooled their collective knowledge to foster innovation across the food supply chain to unearth and scale novel solutions to combat food waste, potentially reshaping industry practices and driving significant environmental and economic benefits.
Greg Lehmkuhl, President and CEO of Lineage, says: “According to the UN Environment Programme’s Food Waste Index Report 2024, the latest data from 2022, shows 1.05 billion tonnes of food went to waste — an amount sufficient to nourish billions.”
He adds: “This reality is stark, especially considering that over 783 million individuals globally suffer from undernourishment. By reducing food waste, we can significantly enhance global food security and address hunger”.
By engaging students and startups, Lineage cultivates fresh ideas for a more efficient future, and for those eager to tackle pressing global issues, this challenge presents a prime opportunity, as lineage proves that collaborative innovation is key to combating food waste – providing food for thought in addressing this global challenge.
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