Editor’s Note: Eva Everloo is senior investment analyst, and Anina Troya is an investment analyst intern at agri-food tech investor PeakBridge.The views expressed in this guest commentary are the authors’ own and do not necessarily reflect those of AgFunderNews.From accelerated drug discovery and turbo-charged R&D, to sparkling marketing copy and improved customer service, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are being deployed in every field. But what do they bring to the food industry?In the second segment of a three-part deep dive into AI in food, Peakbridge explores the potential of AI to address food safety, transparency and quality challenges across the food supply chain.The contemporary globalized food value chainIn today’s world, the global food value chain is like a complex puzzle that spans the planet, enabling the distribution of vital sustenance. This system involves numerous stakeholders, including farmers, manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and consumers, all interconnected in a delicate balance. In the 2020s, the world witnessed the disruption of this intricate network with the COVID-19 pandemic.Another more recent example is the Avian Flu outbreak in the United States, which resulted in economic costs ranging from US$2.5 billion to US$3 billion, foodshortages and exacerbated food prices. Imagine artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain decentralized tracking networks had been in place to collect infectious disease data transparently and reliably and to forecast supply and demand with an optimized food network distribution.Climate change is another challenge that impacts the entire food value chain, revealing its vulnerabilities. It has caused erratic crop yields, resulting in manufacturing shortages, increased transportation costs, and pricing fluctuations

Revolutionizing online grocery: Imperfect Foods introduces Wine, thanks to DRINKS technology.

Imperfect Foods' first-ever wine offering, available through DRINKS' WaaS® platform, features a curated selection of organic and sustainably sourced winesLOS ANGELES, Aug. 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- DRINKS, the pioneering and leading operating system for alcohol e-commerce, is now enabling Imperfect Foods to market wine – a first for the eco-forward online grocer.DRINKS, which has powered the online wine category for Imperfect Foods' parent company, Misfits Market, since early 2022, is now doing the same for Imperfect Foods through its WaaS platform. WaaS enables alcohol e-commerce for retailers, brands and marketplaces via a plug-and-play integration. It seamlessly integrates with any e-commerce platform and ensures order fulfillment and direct-to-home shipping using a network of licensed alcohol producers and retailers.In practical terms, Misfits Market and Imperfect Foods are now both offering their shoppers a curated wine selection that fits the core principles of both brands' eco-focused sourcing tenets. Like the wines available on Misfits Market, those featured on Imperfect Foods' app and website will focus on organic and sustainable options, delivered in eco-friendly packaging, from wineries that protect and support the land where their grapes are raised.The partnership will also help support Imperfect Foods' mission to reduce food waste through a "Rescued Wine" program, which will feature wines with labels that have been scuffed or lightly marked and would not obtain prime shelf space at traditional retailers. As part of delivering outsized value to their members, Imperfect Foods' will offer these high-quality wines at a deep discount