Title: Eliciting food waste perceptions using an AI-driven approach

Authors: Kanwal Gul; Swapnil Morande

Addresses: Department of Economics, Management, Institutions, University of Naples FEDERICO II, Napoli, Italy ' Department of Economics, Management, Institutions, University of Naples FEDERICO II, Napoli, Italy

Abstract: Food waste is a pressing global issue threatening sustainability. This research uses a participatory photovoice methodology to explore students' perceptions of food waste in a developing nation. Students capture images of food waste in their surroundings, and an artificial intelligence engine conducts unbiased analysis of the visual and textual data. The study reveals insights into participants' awareness, attitudes, and emotions surrounding waste, with key themes emerging around waste consciousness, guilt, helplessness, and the influence of affluence and social norms. The research makes two significant contributions. First, the photovoice technique effectively elicits youth perspectives on socio-economic issues in an inclusive, bottom-up manner. Second, AI-powered analytics enables rigorous, objective interpretation of complex subjective data. The study offers a novel approach to understand multi-faceted food waste perceptions, facilitating the design of context-specific interventions. By mobilising youth and leveraging AI, this research aims to spark innovative solutions for reducing waste and building sustainable food systems.

Keywords: food waste; photovoice; artificial intelligence; sustainability; developing countries.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTIP.2024.140625

International Journal of Technology Intelligence and Planning, 2024 Vol.13 No.3, pp.240 - 259

Received: 11 Apr 2023
Accepted: 03 Apr 2024
Published online: 28 Aug 2024 *

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