A Framework for Enabling Safe and Resilient Food Factories for the Public Feeding Programs

TL;DR

This paper proposes a comprehensive framework utilizing AI and IoT technologies to enhance the safety, hygiene, and resilience of public feeding programs, especially during crises like pandemics, based on a pilot in India.

Contribution

It introduces a practical implementation framework combining existing and new technologies to monitor and ensure safety in large-scale public feeding operations.

Findings

Effective detection of hygiene and safety anomalies using CCTV, AI, and IoT.

Resource-efficient monitoring approach demonstrated in a real-world pilot.

Framework supports stakeholders in resuming and strengthening feeding programs.

Abstract

Public feeding programs continue to be a major source of nutrition to a large part of the population across the world. Any disruption to these activities, like the one during the Covid-19 pandemic, can lead to adverse health outcomes, especially among children. Policymakers and other stakeholders must balance the need for continuing the feeding programs while ensuring the health and safety of workers engaged in the operations. This has led to several innovations that leverage advanced technologies like AI and IOT to monitor the health and safety of workers and ensure hygienic operations. However, there are practical challenges in its implementation on a large scale. This paper presents an implementation framework to build resilient public feeding programs using a combination of intelligent technologies. The framework is a result of piloting the technology solution at a facility run as part of a large mid-day meal feeding program in India. Using existing resources like CCTV cameras and new technologies like AI and IOT, hygiene and safety compliance anomalies can be detected and reported in a resource-efficient manner. It will guide stakeholders running public feeding programs as they seek to restart suspended operations and build systems that better adapt to future crises.