Inspiration
Plate It Forward was inspired by the twin challenges of food waste and food insecurity. We noticed that a lot of fresh produce goes to waste simply because people forget to use it before it expires. Meanwhile, many individuals and families struggle with access to nutritious food. We wanted to find a way to connect the surplus of food in households to those who need it most, creating a more sustainable solution to these problems.
What it does
Plate It Forward helps users track the expiration dates of their produce and enables them to donate food that’s about to expire to those in need. Users can either manually enter the expiration date of their food or take a photo of the item. The photo is then processed using a dataset that estimates the expiration date of the produce. When food is nearing its expiry, users are prompted with a reminder and given the option to donate it directly to Stack Fresh, a Vancouver-based charity that redistributes fresh produce to local communities. By providing a simple, tech-driven way to reduce food waste, Plate It Forward ensures that excess food doesn’t go to waste, but instead helps those who are struggling with food insecurity.
How we built it
Plate It Forward was built using a combination of user-friendly tracking features. We incorporated both manual entry and an image recognition system, allowing users to either input expiration dates manually or take a photo of their produce for the app to estimate the expiration. This involved creating a dataset that helps the app analyze the photos and predict the expiration dates. Once the food is identified and tracked, users are sent notifications when it’s time to donate the food, which can then be easily routed to Stack Fresh. The app was designed to be intuitive, ensuring that users could contribute without feeling overwhelmed by complex steps.
Challenges we ran into
One of the main challenges we faced was developing an accurate image recognition system capable of determining the expiration date of produce from a photo. This required sourcing and training a reliable dataset of produce images and expiration patterns. We also had to ensure that the app's interface was intuitive for users of all ages and tech-savviness, making sure that both the manual entry and photo recognition features were easy to use. Optimizing the notification system to be timely and helpful without being intrusive was another hurdle.
Accomplishments that we're proud of
We’re proud of the app’s seamless user experience, which combines both manual input and automated photo recognition to track expiration dates. Our integration with Stack Fresh provides a direct channel for donating fresh produce to those who need it, which we believe is a crucial step in addressing food insecurity. Additionally, we’ve been able to design a system that not only reduces food waste but also promotes sustainable practices within local communities. The app’s functionality, paired with the real-world impact it can make, is something we are particularly proud of.
What we learned
Through this project, we learned how powerful technology can be when combined with a social cause. Developing the image recognition system pushed us to explore new machine learning techniques and understand how they can be applied to everyday problems. We also learned how important it is to make the user interface simple and accessible to ensure people actually use the tool. We now have a deeper understanding of the complexities of food waste, the nuances of expiration tracking, and the logistical aspects of supporting a charity. Additionally, this project taught us the value of collaborating with local organizations to ensure that our technology has a real, lasting impact on the community.
What's next for Plate It Forward
Moving forward, we plan to refine the image recognition technology to improve its accuracy and make it faster and more efficient. We’ll continue to work on expanding the database to support more types of produce and enhance the photo-to-expiration-date feature. We also hope to partner with additional charities and expand Plate It Forward to other cities, helping even more communities fight food waste and food insecurity. Long-term, we envision developing features that allow users to track other aspects of food sustainability, such as carbon footprint or local sourcing, making Plate It Forward a comprehensive tool for conscious consumers.
Log in or sign up for Devpost to join the conversation.