diego_oliva

Argentinian social entrepreneur combating food waste with tech

Diego Oliva is the founder of Comida Reciclada, an Argentine startup that has recovered over 20 million kg of food destined for landfills. Launching in 2016 during Argentina's economic crisis, his platform connects surplus food from supermarkets/restaurants with vulnerable communities through a blockchain-tracked app. The system ensures food safety while creating micro-entrepreneurship opportunities for 15,000+ recipients. Oliva developed AI-driven demand prediction algorithms that reduce waste by 40% for partnered businesses. His model inspired similar ventures in Chile and Peru, forming the Latin American Food Rescue Network (2020). A former Fulbright scholar, he co-authored the WHO Food Waste Reduction Guidelines and advises the UN's Zero Hunger initiative. Oliva's Forbes article 'Turning Waste into Hope' highlighted his approach as a scalable social enterprise model. His TEDx talk 'The Food We Don't See' has driven policy changes in 8 countries, making him a leading voice in global food security innovation.