Commentary
By Sylvain Charlebois

Less than five percent of people really understand how our food goes from farm to table. A quick look at social media shows that misinformation spreads faster than scientific facts, and many people struggle to find reliable information.

Whether it’s GMOs, organic foods, buying local, climate change, or corporate greed in agri-food, most people just don’t grasp the full picture, even with efforts from the media and experts. This lack of understanding could worsen with the rise of artificial intelligence (AI).

As bestselling author Yuval Noah Harari points out in his book Nexus, AI could make people more disconnected from many aspects of their lives, including food. While some compare AI’s rise to the internet revolution, the two aren’t the same. The internet is a tool, but AI can act independently, making decisions for us. This could lead to a situation where people are even less engaged with food systems than they are now, which is a real concern. AI is currently playing a significant role in the food industry, bringing both advantages and challenges:

1.Efficiency and waste reduction

2.Personalized nutrition

3.Food safety

4.Job replacement

5.New food products

But while AI offers clear benefits, there are also serious ethical concerns:

Influencing consumer behaviour

Cultural impact

Widening inequality

AI could potentially completely reshape the way we think about food. While it aims to make food production more efficient, we must ensure it doesn’t erode local autonomy or food identities. It’s crucial to involve everyone in discussions about how AI is used in food and agriculture and to create regulations that prevent power from being concentrated in the hands of a few.

Finally, while AI holds enormous potential to revolutionize the food industry, it’s vital that we remain cautious about its broader impacts on society. AI is transforming how we produce, consume, and think about food, and it’s up to us to ensure these changes are positive and equitable.

Dr. Sylvain Charlebois, a Canadian professor and researcher specializing in food distribution and policy, is a senior director of the Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University and co-host of The Food Professor Podcast.