Currently about 1/3 of food production is lost and wasted globally, despite unprecedented levels of human consumption, courtesy of a growing global population that is set to increase by nearly 2 billion people in the next 30 years. The financial costs of food wastage are substantial and amount to about USD 1 trillion each year. It is imperative that solutions are created to ensure there is enough food for everyone, which also includes reducing the current food waste crisis.

OneThird has developed a portable scanner that is able to scan produce on a molecular level – analyzing their water, sugar, and starch content – using a non-destructive, near-infrared sensing technology and AI algorithms to predict the shelf-life of fresh produce. 

Marco Snikkers, CEO and founder of OneThird said, "The astronomical volume of food that goes to waste each year is heartbreaking, particularly since so much is wasted in affluent countries."

A popular OneThird technology, the avocado scanner, helps consumers choose the perfect avocado at the right time, contributing to less food waste and consumer convenience.

The scanner measures the ripeness of an avocado in seconds. Shoppers place the fruit against the scanner and immediately see whether it is ready to eat right away or still needs to ripen as an eating opportunity later in the week. Whether it's an avocado for today or later, with the scanner shoppers always make the right choice.

The technology offers benefits to both consumers and supermarkets. For consumers, it means better shopping convenience as the avocado scanner allows them to know exactly what they are buying and when the avocado is suitable for immediate use or a later time. This allows for more freedom of choice and avoids disappointment over avocados that are too hard or overripe. In addition, the scanner helps reduce food waste because consumers choose only the avocados they actually need, which also reduces environmental impact.

OneThird has teamed up with Nature's Pride in Norway to pilot the avocado scanner as the first step in a broader rollout, with the goal of further improving the avocado category and reducing waste.