10 . Multiple measures have been taken to cut down on food waste, but one young man is making a big difference with technology.
Liu Jichen, 23, a student from Tsinghua University, has developed a WeChat mini-program called “Clear Your Plate”. After a meal, users can open the mini-program and take a picture of their empty plates. Once the image is recognized by the AI, students can collect points and use them to buy gifts or purchase charity meals for children in poor rural areas.
Liu and his team, together with other organizations, launched the “Clear Your Plate” campaign in November for the third year. It has swept over 1,017 universities across the country. Furthermore, the one-month campaign attracted almost 1.6 million participants and collectively reduced food waste by 862 tons and carbon emissions by 3,337 tons, China Youth Daily reported.
“Technological innovation is a good way to reduce food waste,” Liu thought. He organized a team to work on the project at the end of 2017. To solve the AI’s problem of identifying photos of empty plates, the team spent half a year collecting over 100,000 samples in canteens and restaurants. In 2018, the mini-program was officially put into operation on Oct 16, World Food Day. They then launched a campaign later that year.
“There were so many unknowns in research and development. For our team members, the biggest challenge was whether we were confident enough to complete it,” Liu said. They not only achieved their goal, but now, the mini-program has more than 5 million registered users.
“We hope our efforts can start a new trend among the younger generation by encouraging them to cherish their food and contribute Chinese wisdom and solutions to global food security challenges,” he added.
1. What can we know about the “Clear Your Plate” mini-program?
| A．It is an exchange of food for rewards. |
| B．It helped reduce food waste by 3,337 tons. |
| C．Its 5 million registered users are all students. |
| D．It aims to reduce food waste and encourage people to cherish food. |
2. What is the biggest challenge Liu Jichen and his team faced?
| A．They felt uncertain whether they could complete the project. |
| B．They found it difficult to promote the campaign. |
| C．They had difficulty gathering enough samples. |
| D．They lacked professional technical support. |
3. Which of the following best describes Liu Jichen?
| A．Optimistic and demanding. | B．Generous and responsible. |
| C．Talented and humorous. | D．Creative and determined. |
4. What is the text mainly about?
| A．The influence of the “Clear Your Plate” mini-program across China. |
| B．A meaningful mini-program launched by a group of young people. |
| C．An appeal from young people to fight food security challenges. |
| D．The power of AI technology to fight food waste in China. |
