A recent survey conducted by the United Nations found that food waste from restaurants and stores accounts for 17% of all food waste. Adding up with those in farms and supply chains, the survey revealed that one-third of the food waste has never been eaten. Food waste induced losses not only in food but the natural and economic resources consumed as well. Education should be the first step in solving the food problem, followed by technology and financial instruments like Impact Fund.

Technologies such as Cloud and Internet of Things (IoT) could be used to monitor the growth of crops, fish, and livestock, and collect all the relevant big data for the optimal growing mode through the uses of artificial intelligence and algorithms. Proper applications of technologies also help to forecast weather, reduce food damage, and enhance food safety.

Impact Fund is a kind of financial instrument to support and enhance food production in the third world through investment. The banking services are far behind in those underdeveloped countries and farmers could hardly receive loans and investments for improving their cultivation and production skills. With the increasing uses of mobile phones and the internet, the existence of virtual banks helps the provision of loan services, which facilitate the technological transformation in food production. Impact Investment helps to end world hunger and foster sustainable development but not just solely a donation of money.

Learn more from the full article (in Chinese only) written by Kenny Siu, Senior Advisor of AEC Group, published on Sing Pao on 21 February.