LOFA - Community Cooking Platform

The Challenge

Food insecurity affected 24.9% of Toronto households in 2023, with highest risks among marginalized groups. Simultaneously, young adults struggle with food waste from bulk purchases and poor meal planning, while increasing social isolation and loneliness compound these challenges. The problem required addressing both food waste and community disconnection in a single solution.

The Solution

Designed and built a platform that seamlessly facilitates community cooking gatherings. Core features include user profiles with dietary preferences, AI-assisted group messaging for coordinating with neighbors, computer vision-powered ingredient detection from photos, and an AI recipe generator that creates personalized recipes based on shared ingredients and group preferences. The app includes a visualized map showing nearby users to facilitate local connections.

The Results

Successfully designed and launched a fully functioning app in just 2 days for the Gloo AI Hackathon. The platform provides a scalable solution that addresses food waste reduction, strengthens community bonds, and creates easier food access for marginalized urban populations. The MVP demonstrates three-tier impact: individual households reducing waste (Level 1), low-income neighborhoods building food security (Level 2), and potential integration with food banks and shelters (Level 3).

• 2 days Build Time
• 24.9% Food Insecurity Rate
• 3 Levels Impact Tiers

Areas of expertise

• AI Implementation
• Computer Vision
• Social Impact
• Community Building
• Food Tech
• Hackathon