Across sectors, geographies and cultures, humanity wastes perfectly edible food. Over one billion tonnes of food is thrown away annually, amounting to a financial loss of US$1 trillion every year. Food waste remains a pernicious problem, but it is also a solvable one, with artificial intelligence (AI) emerging as a tool in tackling global food waste and emissions.
As part of the Food Waste Breakthrough – an initiative that aims to halve this type of waste by 2030 and cut global methane emissions by 7 per cent – established technology companies and digital startups are harnessing AI to solve some of the world’s food waste dilemmas. These solutions are both effective and easy to adopt, helping individuals and businesses reduce food waste across commercial kitchens and households.
However, the environmental impact of AI remains substantial. Research shows that the data centres powering AI consume vast amounts of electricity and water and rely on minerals that are often mined unsustainably. To avoid increasing fossil fuel-generated greenhouse gases, it is essential for these data centres to integrate renewable energy into their operations. A resolution adopted in December 2025 by the United Nations Environment Assembly encourages Member States to minimise the potential ecological harm of AI while harnessing its environmental benefits.
Given AI’s ability to detect patterns in data and predict future outcomes, the technology has potential to enhance efficiencies within food systems. Applied to food waste, AI can help governments, businesses and individuals ensure that more food is eaten rather than thrown away.
Many people already rely on AI assistants for everyday tasks, and with careful guidance, these tools can also help reduce household food waste. UNEP is working with Google Gemini to explore how AI can support families in improving household food systems through targeted prompts and behavioural insights.
“We wanted to make this process positive and practical. Everyone thinks they don’t waste food,” said United Nations Environment Programme Sustainable Food Systems Programme Management officer Clementine O’Connor“Critic. al questions like these get people thinking about their own behaviours, and how small adjustments can save them money and cut their climate impact.”
Such waste is a component of landfills, producing up to 14 per cent of the world’s methane, a greenhouse gas more potent than carbon dioxide. While separating organic waste and diverting it to composting is vital, AI also has the potential to reduce the amount of food discarded in the first place.
Indoor composting solutions and AI-enabled tracking tools are already helping households reduce waste, while generating data that influences behaviour. O’Connor said awareness is key.
“Once people become aware of how much they usually waste, they’re incentivised to try to reduce it,” she said. “The important thing is to not make people feel guilty about food waste, because the science shows that it doesn’t change behavior.”
She said AI can motivate new habits while supporting existing ones, delivering quick climate wins and helping families save money.