Food companies launch initiatives to reduce raw material waste using “artificial intelligence”

Officials of companies specialized in the local food industry sector reported the launch of new plans to expand sustainability initiatives in production processes, in line with the country’s trends to implement sustainability standards, reduce carbon emissions, and enhance the economic returns of manufacturing operations from these initiatives.

They indicated in statements to Emirates Today, on the sidelines of the activities of the “Future Food Industries 2024” Forum, which was held in Dubai recently, that the most prominent of these initiatives center on launching lines to recycle cardboard envelopes for use in various products, and applying new artificial intelligence systems to reduce Waste of raw materials, at rates exceeding previous systems.

For its part, the Food and Beverage Manufacturers Group in the Emirates considered that the expansion of sustainability standards and technical systems has become one of the important policies that is being accepted by local food production companies.

In detail, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Emirates Pasta Factory, Ahmed Saeed Balyouha, said, “The administration has adopted modern initiatives that include launching artificial intelligence systems that contribute to reducing the waste of raw materials and products during manufacturing processes at high rates, exceeding the technical systems used previously.”

He added, “The factory is moving to expand sustainability standards through these systems that allow reducing waste rates in materials that enter into production processes, by rates of less than 1% only, which are standard rates for reducing waste rates.”

He explained that “launching initiatives supporting sustainability keeps pace with the country’s trends to promote sustainability and the green economy, and at the same time, there are various economic benefits to implementing sustainability standards by enhancing returns.”

For her part, Communications Director at Tetra Pak, Alia Jameel, said, “The company has recently launched new initiatives to enhance sustainability, which included establishing production lines to recycle cardboard packaging for food and beverage products, to be used in other products, most notably home furniture components.” ».

She added, “The new recycling plant was chosen to be launched in the Al Quoz area in Dubai, with investments amounting to 2.5 million dirhams, with a production capacity of 10,000 tons, with the actual operations of the production lines in the factory to begin next November.”

In turn, the Executive Director of the “IFCO” Food Group, Radwan Ahmed, said, “The group launched the (Roadmap for Climate Protection 2030) initiative, and it represents an incentive to increase innovation and effective contribution to enhancing the group’s sustainability practices on various paths.”

He explained that “the most prominent initiatives are those that focus on sustainability standards, related to the efficiency of energy use in the operations of production lines and shares of renewable energy, removing the carbon footprint in terms of transportation and transport, and reducing the emission of greenhouse gases resulting from the sources of production of palm oil, soybeans and wheat.”

In turn, Saleh Lootah, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Food and Beverage Manufacturers Group in the Emirates, considered that “adopting sustainability initiatives and expanding the launch of new plans is one of the important trends adopted by many companies operating in the local food manufacturing sector, in its various fields and related products.”

He added, “One of the most prominent features of these trends in the markets is the combination of the use of modern technology systems such as artificial intelligence and the metaverse, and the implementation of sustainability initiatives, as these technologies are a major support for the expansion of the implementation of sustainability plans in the Emirati food sector.”