East Lansing, MI, September 9, 2025
News Summary
Michigan State University is partnering with Raccoon Eyes to tackle food waste in its dining halls using advanced AI technology. This initiative analyzes uneaten food to optimize meal portions and recipes. With an accuracy rate of 90%, the system collects valuable data to enhance sustainability efforts. Interactive kiosks have also been installed to engage students in discussions about food waste. Alongside this project, MSU operates the Anaerobic Digestion Research and Education Center, converting organic waste into energy for campus use, further promoting its commitment to sustainability.
East Lansing, MI – Michigan State University (MSU) is tackling the issue of food waste with the help of new artificial intelligence technology introduced by Raccoon Eyes. As of August 18, 2025, this collaboration is aimed at monitoring and reducing food waste in dining halls, a growing concern as many students are discarding uneaten meals, especially oversized items like Philly cheesesteaks.
The initiative kicked off at two of MSU’s dining locations: Heritage Commons at Landon Hall and The Edge at Akers Hall. The Raccoon Eyes system utilizes special cameras in dish return areas to create three-dimensional models of leftover food, achieving an impressive accuracy rate of 90% in identifying the weight and types of food that are thrown away. This technology is set to provide insights that will help the university improve meal portion sizes and adjust recipes, ultimately helping to minimize food waste.
Prior to this high-tech approach, MSU’s dining staff had implemented a manual program for seven years, where leftover food was weighed to assess waste. However, this initiative was discontinued in 2019 due to budget cuts related to the COVID-19 pandemic. At that time, the average food waste was reported at 2.96 ounces per student, per meal. The new Raccoon Eyes technology aims to fill this gap and provide richer data for future planning.
Although the initial data collection looks promising, there are some challenges. For instance, students must be encouraged to remove napkins from their plates to ensure cameras can accurately gauge the food waste. Additionally, concerns have been raised regarding students stacking plates at Akers Hall, which could complicate the accuracy of the visual analyses.
To further engage students in the sustainability conversation, Raccoon Eyes has installed interactive kiosks in the dining halls. These kiosks prompt students with questions about their dining experience, gathering valuable context that may influence food waste trends. Once enough data has been collected, the kiosks are expected to display food waste statistics and reminders about sustainability efforts on campus.
While the program strives to gain more student engagement, preliminary observations indicate limited interaction with the kiosk, particularly with its mascot, Rowdy, a cartoon raccoon intended to promote awareness around sustainability.
Beyond the focus on food waste, MSU is also involved in sustainable waste management through its Anaerobic Digestion Research and Education Center (ADREC). Since its establishment in 2008, ADREC has been converting organic waste into energy using an anaerobic digestion process. This initiative involves a partnership between several university departments, including MSU Culinary Services and the Dairy Cattle Teaching and Research Center, which provide culinary and animal waste respectively.
Energy generated from this process helps power around ten buildings on campus, establishing MSU as one of only three self-sustaining anaerobic digester universities in the United States. The digester processes significant amounts of organic waste, with specialized equipment managing approximately 12,000 gallons of material daily. Despite its efficiencies, challenges remain such as contamination from non-biodegradable items, which can impede the processing capabilities of the digester. Measures like the use of magnets to remove metallic objects are continuously being implemented to enhance operations.
Ultimately, the dual functionality of the anaerobic digester helps to produce usable energy while contributing positively towards MSU’s commitment to sustainability.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Raccoon Eyes and how is it related to food waste at MSU?
Raccoon Eyes is a startup that has implemented artificial intelligence technology at Michigan State University to monitor and reduce food waste in dining halls. The technology uses cameras to create 3-D models of uneaten food, helping to provide insights on portion sizes and recipes.
How does the AI technology work in monitoring food waste?
The AI technology uses special cameras located in dish return areas of dining halls to estimate the weight and type of food discarded. It has an accuracy rate of 90% in identifying food types and weights.
What sustainability efforts does MSU have in addition to the Raccoon Eyes initiative?
MSU also operates the Anaerobic Digestion Research and Education Center (ADREC), which converts organic waste into energy for the campus. This facility collaborates with various departments to process food and animal waste, contributing to the university’s sustainability goals.
Key Features of Raccoon Eyes and Sustainability Initiatives at MSU
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| AI Monitoring | Uses cameras to analyze 3-D models of food waste with 90% accuracy. |
| Interactive Kiosks | Engages students with questions to collect data on dining experiences. |
| Anaerobic Digestion Center | Converts organic waste to energy, powering ten campus buildings. |
| Historical Data | Average food waste in 2019 was 2.96 ounces per student. |
| Challenges | Encouraging student behavior for accurate data collection remains a focus. |
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
New Adhesive Technology Enhances Recycling of Multilayer Plastics
Additional Resources
- The State News: AI Dining Tech at MSU
- Michigan Farm News: MSU Anaerobic Digestion Innovations
- The State News: MSU Waste to Power
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Sustainability
- Google Search: Food Waste Management
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