| Fred tackles food waste

FRED.OLSEN Cruise Lines (FOCL) is rolling out a six-month trial to reduce food waste through a new initiative leveraging AI.

Taking place on board its ship Bolette, the cruise company has partnered with Swiss tech company KITRO to install five devices that will automatically track and analyse food waste, using image recognition tech.

The system will capture and identify discarded food in real time, taking note of information such as weight, category and timing, offering in-depth insights into where and why waste occurs.

Thanks to the technology, onboard teams will be able to monitor trends, identify cost-saving opportunities and roll out targeted improvements.

According to a statement from Fred.Olsen, the findings from the pilot will determine whether a wider rollout of the tech will take place across the entire fleet.

“By using KITRO’s innovative AI technology, alongside their expert support, we’ll gain a clearer understanding of food waste on board, helping us make meaningful changes where they matter most,” Dominic Simpson, Sustainability Manager at Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines said.

“It’s an important step in our wider commitment to improving efficiency and investing in fleetwide upgrades that support our longterm sustainability goals,” he added.

KITRO’s head of sales Jonathan Comotti also commented on how food waste is one of the “most impactful and actionable sustainability challenges in the hospitality industry” and he is confident that through the partnership, the two companies will be able to set an example for the wider industry. JHM

Pictured: Josie Bartlett, sustainability intern at FOCL; Ajesh Scaria, executive chef on board Bolette; Anthony Fernandes, public health manager on board Bolette; Giulia Pappacoda, food waste consultant at KITRO; Jonathan Comotti, head of sales at KITRO; Dominic Simpson, sustainability manager at FOCL; and Giles Mason, sanitation manager at FOCL. JHM