In the bustling world of restaurants, poor management, communication gaps and chaotic workflows often lead to food spoilage and improper storage, contributing significantly to wastage. It was the problem statement at “HACK4TKM” hackathon, a national-level event, organized by TKM College of Engineering and TKM Institute of Technology, aimed at promoting smart and sustainable solutions for agriculture, food and rural development. While working on the problem statement their winning solution won them 3rd prize! The team BrutForce at the hackathon consisted of Pranav Bhutada, Kushal Partani, Yash Gupta, and Siddharth Chauhan, Integrated M.Tech (iMTech) students from IIIT-Bangalore stepped up with a groundbreaking solution.
According to the reports, every year, a staggering 116 million tons of dairy products, along with over 31.5% of global fruit and vegetable production, go to waste.
The ingenious device coupled with a cutting-edge mobile application named ‘Freshguard’. The device, powered by IoT technology and equipped with gas sensors and a microprocessor, captures real-time data on various gases emitted by perishable foods. This data is seamlessly transmitted to a cloud database and then relayed to the Freshguard app.
- Designed specifically for large storage warehouses and transporting vehicles, Freshguard offers a comprehensive solution to monitor and reduce food loss. The app’s key features include:
- Integration of gas sensors allows for continuous monitoring of food freshness, providing up-to-the-minute insights into the health status of stored items.
- Leveraging machine learning algorithms, Freshguard analyzes sensor data to accurately assess the freshness of food, enabling proactive decision-making.
- By establishing thresholds for gas levels, the app determines the edibility of food items, ensuring that only safe and fresh products are consumed or distributed.
Freshguard empowers both consumers and industries with proactive food management solutions, promoting sustainability and reducing waste across the supply chain. Their unique selling proposition (USP) by employing regression analysis to provide a nuanced quality score ranging from 0 to 100 across various products. Their models are easy to develop over a wide range of products and scalable as well.
With their innovative approach and commitment to sustainability, Pranav, Kushal, Yash, and Siddharth exemplify the spirit of innovation driving the next generation of technologists. Their Freshguard app represents a significant step towards combating food waste and encouraging a more efficient, environmentally conscious food industry.
