Reducing Food Waste with Sustainable Agriculture

Annaberth Van Der Steege is the head of US production for Marley Spoon. She oversees operational strategy execution and meets regulatory compliance, food quality, and safety standards. Her extensive experience in food waste, supply chain, and quality management assists the company in facilitating safe, delicious, and sustainable meals for its customers. She contributes to the organization's success through her leadership and commitment to excellence. 

In an exclusive interview with Agri Business Review, Annaberthshared her valuable insights on the trends and future sustainable agriculture and her key responsibilities in her current organization.

Can you tell us more about your journey as an individual leader in this field and your current key roles and responsibilities at your organization?

I have always had an enormous passion for the agriculture industry as I was born and raised on Netherlands farms. So, my journey started when I was very young. Since my childhood, I have focused on where the food was grown, how it got transported, and topics like food waste.

I studied food science at the Vatican University but shifted my orientation towards sustainable agriculture. During my master's, I opted for food quality and supply chain management. Furthermore, upon moving to Germany, I was assigned responsibilities such as quality management of meat and dairy products, vendor assessment, and global operations evaluation.

These experiences have kindled an enthusiasm for global food systems, prompting me to collaborate with diverse industries and countries across Asia, Europe, and Northern Africa. Through these collaborations, I have been inspired to delve into the varied food systems and the fragmented state of food regulation, even within Europe. As a result, Marley Spoon approached me regarding compliance topics and quality control. 

Throughout the years, I have held multiple positions in the organization. As the head of production, quality, safety, and sustainability, I have been responsible for all aspects of process quality, health and safety at work, sustainable practices, order fulfillment, warehouse management, food manufacturing, operational excellence, and inventory management.

What are some of the significant challenges that have been impacting the sustainable agriculture space lately?

Our biggest challenge as an organization in the agriculture business is the ongoing impact of climate change. At Marley Spoon, we are transforming how food is produced and consumed. We are committed to being carbon neutral and are establishing a lean supply chain to reduce food waste and carbon emissions associated with food production and build more resilient operations to cope with climate change disruptions.

We observe ongoing disruptions in our supply chains by managing fulfillmentcenters, where we assemble boxes with food. With the assistance of our suppliers, we are constantly reducing packaging while maintaining the freshness of food during transportation in all weather conditions. We strive to limit our impact on climate change by adopting sustainable practices, investing in renewable energy sources, and utilizing resources efficiently.

What are some of the trends or new process elements that have emerged to help tackle these pain points?

Considering that humanity is constantly adapting to its challenges, it is difficult to determine what constitutes a trend. All I can say is that predicting forecasting solutions helps us foresee incidences and plan accordingly. In this context, using artificial intelligence to predict these incidents is becoming increasingly common by utilizing data collected over the years. 

Can you tell us about some recent projects you have been working on and what technological and process elements you have incorporated to ensure their success?

Marley Spoon was only one and a half years in business when I joined the organization. We have developed numerous strategies and projects since then to ensure safety and quality protocols. We operate several fulfillmentcenters where fresh products and goods are received daily, and we prepare personalized boxes according to the preferences of our customers as well as their location and weather conditions. Each customer gets a unique box. The pre-ordering procedure has assisted in bringing down our food waste to two percent.

Additionally, to address issues regarding the freshness and quality of the ingredients, we have instrumented a freshness indicator strip to the boxes, which triggers chemical reactions based on time and temperature conditions. Customers can scan and identify if the meal inside is consumable during delivery. This piece of technology provides real-time data to the company about their products' condition in the supply chain's last mile. It also helps in optimizing logistics and reducing food waste.

How do you envision the future of the agriculture business sector a couple of years down the line?

Customers are becoming aware of the importance of transparency and traceability in the food supply chain. This information includes the origin of the packaging, the people involved in the packaging process, the source of the ingredients, as well as food safety information. The importance of data transparency and predictive analytics in the food supply chain is growing rapidly.

Many companies respond by providing online platforms offering detailed product information. Data and AI also enable companies to predict future needs better and make more informed decisions. Using sensors, such as the freshness indicator strip mentioned earlier, is one example of how transparency and traceability can be achieved at every step of the supply chain process.

Is there any piece of advice or best practice you would like to share with aspirants seeking to establish a career in sustainable agriculture?

I would like to tell interested individuals that it is important to stay up-to-date with developments, and being adaptable is crucial for building resilience within the organization. Furthermore, one must be open to change and embrace new ideas with an entrepreneurial mindset to implement organizational changes successfully.