Food waste is a critical concern for both developing and advanced economies alike. Digital technologies hold promise for helping to alleviate this problem, and our investigation sets out to deliver a workable prototype employing cloud-based image classification alongside tailored OCR techniques. The product of our work is an economical yet high-performing mobile app prototype that establishes a foundation for future inquiry. We drew on sophisticated principles of application integration—encompassing mobile frameworks, Firebase machine learning modules, and OCR procedures—to signal how near food items are to spoiling. Where no printed date exists, the system generates an indicative shelf-life projection built on prudent category-based assumptions. These projections do not constitute safety determinations and are not a substitute for manufacturer date markings or national food-safety regulations. The outcomes lend our paper unmistakable originality and scholarly value, boosting the operational efficiency of storage facilities and retail food outlets. The ramifications of our work are technical, economic, and societal in nature.
Agro Intelligence Research Press