How technology is helping reduce food waste. Here's why it matters

Estimates are that a fifth of all food produced for human consumption around the world is either lost or wasted. This equates to one billion meals a day, costing the global economy $1 trillion each year.

In developing countries, poor farm storage is a key challenge, while in the developed world, the problem mostly boils down to food wastage. In fact, a huge 60% of food waste happens at the household level.

Another challenge is that food loss and waste generate up to 10% of all international greenhouse gas emissions, which is nearly five times the levels of the controversial aviation industry.

It was with these kinds of statistics in mind that Tessa Clarke, Co-Founder and Chief Executive of Olio, first set the company up as a B-Corp 10 years ago. Its free-of-charge app enables people to give away, lend, sell, purchase, borrow or receive food items that would otherwise ...