Smart Plate deploys an integrated platform combining IoT sensors in cafeteria bins to track waste, a mobile app for student meal feedback, and an AI-driven analytics dashboard for cafeteria managers.

When students finish their meals, sensors measure the amount and type of waste, while students use the app to provide opinions and preferences on meals.

This data is processed by an AI algorithm to adjust future meal plans, aligning them with student preferences while adhering to nutritional guidelines.

Real-time insights are then provided to cafeteria staff to optimize daily meal offerings.

Smart Plate minimizes food waste by making meal planning adaptive to student preferences, improves cost efficiency for school food services, ensures compliance with nutritional standards, and supports sustainability goals.

It reduces financial losses from waste and enhances student satisfaction with meal offerings.

The core technology involves existing IoT, AI, and mobile applications and could be feasibly developed with a mid-sized engineering team.

Total costs might include hardware for IoT sensors and development for the software platform.

Schools' willingness to adopt is evident given increasing regulatory and public pressure to reduce waste, though integrating with existing cafeteria operations may require initial trial periods.