Cheese whey-based edible film and machine learning for sustainable food preservation: A conceptual framework

Abstract

Background: Food loss and waste remain major global challenges threatening food security, environmental sustainability, and public health. Edible films can extend food shelf life and reduce dependence on conventional plastic packaging, while Artificial Intelligence (AI) supports food quality monitoring and shelf-life prediction. Augmented Reality (AR) may enhance consumer education through interactive learning. This study evaluates the integration of whey-based edible film, AI, and AR as a conceptual framework for food preservation, food waste reduction, and food safety improvement. Methods: A qualitative literature review was conducted using secondary data from scientific journals, books, government reports, and relevant publications on food waste management, sustainable packaging, food preservation, AI, AR, and food safety. The literature was analyzed using SWOT analysis and the Pentahelix Plus framework, supported by sustainable packaging, circular economy, and smart food monitoring concepts. Findings: The literature-based analysis indicates that integrating whey-based edible film, AI, and AR may support sustainable food preservation through biodegradable packaging, intelligent food quality monitoring, and interactive consumer education. SWOT analysis identified technological integration, environmental sustainability, and cross-sector collaboration as potential strengths, while implementation costs, technological infrastructure, data availability, and user adoption were major challenges. However, SINERVA remains a conceptual framework, and its components, including AR-assisted consumer education, have not been empirically validated. Conclusion: SINERVA integrates biodegradable whey-based edible film, AI-driven food quality assessment, and proposed AR-assisted consumer education to support sustainable food preservation, food safety, and food waste reduction. Further research is needed to develop the system, incorporate AR-based education into the application workflow, validate technical performance, and evaluate real-world effectiveness. Novelty/Originality of this article: This study proposes an interdisciplinary framework connecting sustainable packaging, circular economy principles, AI-based food quality monitoring, and AR-assisted consumer education to address food waste and food safety challenges.