INTRODUCTION
The global population is expected to exceed 9.1 billion by
2050 with a projected increase in food demand by 50-70% [2] [3], producing a
significant challenge in increasing the availability of food to achieve global
food security. Xingliang et al [2] defined global food security as a state
where all people have access to nutritious, sufficient and safe food to sustain
an active and healthy life irrelevant of where they are in the world. Large
amounts of edible food is lost or wasted throughout the supply chain, however
recent studies have shown that in developed countries households form the
highest contributors of food waste while in developing countries most of the
loss is realised post-harvest [4] https://codeshoppy.com/shop/product/agri-shop-for-farmers/
To make progress in reducing consumer-based
food waste it is important to understand the causes of consumer related food
waste from the consumer’s perspective. Almost half the food thrown away in the
UK has not been “used on time” due to various reasons ranging from a busy
lifestyle, date labelling, to being stored at the back of the fridge or
cupboard [5]. Other aspects of consumer behaviour linked to food waste include
frequent shopping, shop offers like buy one get one free, proximity and variety
of the shops, and the lack of knowledge by consumers on how to manage food
efficiently [6].
In modern food systems date labelling has become a tool for
managing risks and perceived risk by legislators, for consumer protection
[7].It has been observed that date labelling has raised awareness of food risks
traditionally unconsidered as consumers are turning more to scientific
knowledge for answers [8]. While legislators support food date labelling commending
that food labelling reduces uncertainty and vulnerability of consumers some
research has revealed that it has managed to create more anxieties with
consumers afraid to go against date labels and throwing food away unnecessarily
[7] [8].
The internet is quickly becoming a big part of our everyday life and
many people especially the younger generation are relying on the internet to
perform different tasks and to find information [1]. The Internet of Things
(IoT) is considered the next evolution in the development of smart homes
offering consumer satisfaction in sustainable living with everything controlled
from one source through the internet which could be the mobile phone internet
[9] [1]. The inclusion of a food waste management App in an IoT system of a
smart home could lead to better food management, in addition to financial
savings as well as a reduction in carbon emissions which are linked to food
waste currently estimated at 3% of the total UK emissions [1] [5] [10]. Despite
consumers being the biggest contributors to food waste there is little research
in this area, however emerging technologies like smart fridges and mobile phone
applications like OLIO, TOO GOOD TO GO have started to address the issues of
food waste by using technology.
INITIAL DESIGN OF THE FOODTREK APP
The design of the FoodTrek App was based on
research and participant feedback in which participants gave information about
what they liked most in applications. Taking into consideration user’s needs
during App development increases acceptance and helps the developer to identify
positive user experiences [13]. The focus on the design was on the primary
functions so that users could easily find information on navigation and also on
functionality to deliver on the purpose of the App. The initial design included
some important features outlined in sub-sections A to D, however some of them
may change following evaluation of the next phase of the FoodTrek prototype.
A.The traffic light prompt systemA traffic light system was adopted due to its
use in the food industry, where the traffic light system is already used to
make healthy food choices by indicating unhealthy levels of some nutrients in
food, therefore people are already familiar with the sequence. [5]
The use of
the traffic light system to color code food labels provide people with clear
information about the food they are eating such as using the colour red for
high levels of undesirable nutrients like saturated fats. For this project the
traffic light system is intended to help users make informed balanced choices
about the way they use food after getting alerts about the end date. Figure 4
illustrates the FoodTrek alert system.
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