JOIA by Iberostar Uses AI to Cut Food Waste Effectively: Oranjestad — JOIA by Iberostar has implemented an Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) system in its kitchens to reduce food waste and lower costs. During a presentation on Tuesday morning, representatives including Ghislaine de Windt Kemmerling, Chef Ludwich Samson, Jareth Vermeulen, and Stefany from the 3R Department demonstrated how the technology supports the resort’s sustainability goals.
The resort has installed three specialized machines in the kitchen areas. When staff deposit food waste into the bins, the equipment scans the items, identifies the ingredients, and records the weight. Employees have undergone rigorous training to operate the devices, which includes a protocol to separate liquids from solid food to ensure accurate data analysis.
At the end of each shift, food and beverage managers receive detailed reports quantifying the waste in kilograms and estimating the financial loss. This data allows chefs and purchasing officers to adjust future orders, avoiding overproduction of specific items based on actual consumption trends. The initiative aligns with the global sustainability model of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
Jareth Vermeulen noted that the system has been used at three Iberostar resorts in Jamaica for some time, resulting in savings of over 1.3 million US dollars in food costs. Furthermore, Stefany confirmed that the training program has been extended to Marriott Aruba, where staff are now also utilizing the A.I. technology.
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