More than one third of food produced for human consumption globally goes to waste each year while 821 million people suffers from hunger and approximately 2 billion people are obese or overweight. While the food industry accounts for one third of total greenhouse gas emissions the problem of food loss and waste contributes to climate crisis by causing approximately 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

Surplus Tool – optimized set of tools and methodologies (D2.4), a software tool has been developed to monitor waste generation at the food industries, the retailer and HORECA (HOTEL-RESTAURANT-CAFE) levels of the food supply chain and selected food supply chains. The tool, Surplus Stock Measurement and Management Tool, helps selected food supply chain partners to measure surplus food and food waste generation and recommends the best-suited recovery method with AI technologies in line with the Food Recovery Hierarchy developed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, to manage surplus food and food waste by creating the highest environmental, social, and financial value possible. The tool requires product-based information including SKU (Stock Keeping Unit), the ingredients of the products and allergen information, and waste/surplus generation point and reason to provide the appropriate management approach while taking into the account of the principles of the hierarchy.