Nanne van der Wal

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The modern food supply is largely dependent on fossil fuels. With the depletion of these fuels the question arises how to feed the world population of 9 billion people by 2050. With the use of Big Data, smart distribution systems and an eye for efficiency, numerous start-ups are looking for solutions to provide real, nutritious and more sustainable food. However, will the approach of the new generation food start-ups guarantee our food supply in the future?

The global food production is at odds with the food consumption. How do we feed the growing population that is increasingly wealthy, without losing sight of the environment, the people and animals? Additionally, how do we move to a more equal food distribution worldwide? The time is ripe: better informed consumers increasingly care about the origin and production of their food, along with growing awareness of the effects of their consumption on the planet.

A great example of an initiative seeking to act on this issue is a design challenge aimed at technology-driven disruption of fishing methods as we know it, launched by three leading seafood processing brands: Espersen, Icelandic Seachill and Nomand Foods. Particularly this is aimed at moving away from bottom trawling, which is the most destructive fishing method with huge negative impact on the seabed ecosystem. A big theme in the challenge is the ‘Internet of the Sea’, that helps to better identify locations, species and movements of fish before even putting the gear in the water. Having better data about where to fish can lead to cost and fuel savings and more fishing efficiency. A promising idea is the solar and wind powered Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUVs). The echo-sounders and sensors would enable the AUVs to send back real-time ocean fishery data back to a central location accessible to the fishing fleet. Other initiatives in the design challenge vary from virtual nets and autonomous catching devices. Hopefully all these good ideas will lead to a more sustainable fishing industry.

Another initiative is the Dutch Smart | dairy, a start-up acting on the growing dairy demand in the world, demand especially coming from emerging markets. Smart | dairy aims at connecting small scale farmers in emerging markets in order to create macro-farm that can act as one to produce high quality milk. With Smart | dairy, small scale farmers have access to markets, access to technology and access to funds. Currently, they have 4 farms up and running in Kenya, whilst exploring opportunities in Myanmar, Uganda, Tanzania, an India.

Sources:

http://www.vpro.nl/programmas/tegenlicht/kijk/afleveringen/2014-2015/digitaal-voedsel.html

https://foodtechconnect.com/2016/06/20/building-the-internet-of-the-seas-commercial-fishing/

http://smartdairyinside.com

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The rise of the internet has paved the path for online savvy start-ups expanding onto the web-based platform. Traditional business models of big incumbents have been challenged by the models relying on the concept of ‘collaborative consumption’. Also known as the sharing economy.

The potential of peer-to-peer marketplaces – leveraging traditional methods of sharing, lending, renting and trading – in transforming commerce is astonishing. Renting out spare rooms through Airbnb, or your car through SnappCar are obvious examples. But the possibilities are endless. Other examples are Peerby, through which you can borrow basically anything from people in the neighborhood. Or Thuisafgehaald, enabling you to buy a home cooked mail from someone around the corner. The traditional business model where firms provide value through ownership of assets is passé. But as the peer-to-peer industry reaches a critical mass, downsides start to emerge.

The informal nature of the peer-to-peer economy, which is based on good intentions of others, may collide with regulations implemented to ensure safety and fairness for both the suppliers of goods and services and the consumers. As Janelle Orsi, expert on emerging law of the sharing economy, states: “sharing organizations tend to operate in a grey area between personal and commercial, public and private, which makes it difficult to figure out how regulations apply.” (Fast Company, 2013).

Take the restaurant industry, they have to obey to a wide range of regulations to ensure the quality of food. However, there are no formal regulations for the people selling meals through Thuisafgehaald. Where does the boundary lay; at what point should these initiatives obey to certain regulations? Recent commotion around the negative effects of Airbnb – tax issues and unsafe housing – illustrates the point made by Orsi as well. The hotel industry is subject to regular inspections to ensure safety and cleanliness. Airbnb faces no such thing. This creates an uneven playing field that potentially even poses dangers to people that rent through Airbnb. The same goes for the taxi industry – cab drivers need licenses and there are all sorts of safety and insurance regulations. Currently, Uber-drivers do not need a license, nor are there formal standards that the cars should meet. As a result, Uber has been facing injunctions battles by taxi companies in several cities for unfair competition.

What do you think. Is the sharing economy something to embrace or be cautious about to ensure safety and level the playing field?

Reference:
Fast Company. (2013). Does The Sharing Economy Have a Shadow Side?. [online] Available at: https://www.fastcompany.com/3013272/does-the-sharing-economy-have-a-shadow-side [Accessed 23 Sep. 2016].

Other sources:
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/may/27/airbnb-uber-taxes-regulation [Accessed 23 Sep. 2016].
http://www.marketingfacts.nl/topic/sharing-economy [Accessed 23 Sep. 2016].
http://www.mejudice.nl/artikelen/detail/wat-is-nu-eigenlijk-deeleconomie [Accessed 23 Sep. 2016].
http://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21573104-internet-everything-hire-rise-sharing-economy [Accessed 23 Sep. 2016].

The internet of food: Start-ups revolutionizing towards a sustainable food industry

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