RECO: An AI-Powered Chatbot System for Optimizing Reverse Agri-Food Logistics and Fighting Food Insecurity in Colombia

Juan Sebastián Sánchez-Gómez; Johanna Trujillo-Díaz; Carla Fernanda González Mina; Cristian David Ayala Martinez; Francy Valentina Gamba Ruiz; Mauricio Becerra-Fernández; Flor Nancy Díaz-Piraquive

doi:10.1007/978-3-031-98235-4_14

RECO: An AI-Powered Chatbot System for Optimizing Reverse Agri-Food Logistics and Fighting Food Insecurity in Colombia

Juan Sebastián Sánchez-Gómez
, Johanna Trujillo-Díaz
, Carla Fernanda González Mina
, Cristian David Ayala Martinez
, Francy Valentina Gamba Ruiz
, Mauricio Becerra-Fernández
, Flor Nancy Díaz-Piraquive

Research output: Chapter in Book/Inform › Conference contribution

Abstract

Food waste management has become a critical global issue with significant economic, social, and environmental impacts. In Colombia, approximately 9.7 million tons of food are wasted annually, impacting food security and malnutrition. This research explores the role of artificial intelligence, particularly chatbots, in optimizing food distribution and minimizing waste. The proposed system, RECO Donation Manager, employs AI-powered chatbots integrated with PostgreSQL databases and geolocation services like Bing Maps to streamline food donations. The AI in the chatbots, powered by natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning (ML), improves user interaction, automates resource allocation, and ensures efficient food redistribution. The initial implementation highlights challenges in geolocation accuracy, data validation, and understanding NLP, emphasizing the need for further refinement. This study demonstrates the potential of AI-based solutions to mitigate food waste and foster sustainable resource management, offering a promising foundation for future advances in automated food donation systems.

Original language	English (US)
Title of host publication	Industrial Engineering and Operations Management - 10th North American Conference - Computer Science Tracks, IEOM-CS 2025, Proceedings
Editors	Hector Florez, Luis Rabelo, Cesar Diaz
Publisher	Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH
Pages	193-209
Number of pages	17
ISBN (Print)	9783031982347
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-98235-4_14
State	Published - 2026
Event	10th North American Conference on Industrial Engineering and Operations Management – Computer Science Tracks, IEOM-CS 2025 - Orlando, United States Duration: Jun 17 2025 → Jun 19 2025

Publication series

Name	Communications in Computer and Information Science
Volume	2557 CCIS
ISSN (Print)	1865-0929
ISSN (Electronic)	1865-0937

Conference

Conference	10th North American Conference on Industrial Engineering and Operations Management – Computer Science Tracks, IEOM-CS 2025
Country/Territory	United States
City	Orlando
Period	6/17/25 → 6/19/25

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 1 No Poverty
SDG 2 Zero Hunger

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

General Computer Science
General Mathematics

Access to Document

10.1007/978-3-031-98235-4_14

Cite this

Sánchez-Gómez, J. S., Trujillo-Díaz, J., Mina, C. F. G., Martinez, C. D. A., Ruiz, F. V. G., Becerra-Fernández, M., & Díaz-Piraquive, F. N. (2026). RECO: An AI-Powered Chatbot System for Optimizing Reverse Agri-Food Logistics and Fighting Food Insecurity in Colombia. In H. Florez, L. Rabelo, & C. Diaz (Eds.), Industrial Engineering and Operations Management - 10th North American Conference - Computer Science Tracks, IEOM-CS 2025, Proceedings (pp. 193-209). (Communications in Computer and Information Science; Vol. 2557 CCIS). Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-98235-4_14

Sánchez-Gómez, Juan Sebastián ; Trujillo-Díaz, Johanna ; Mina, Carla Fernanda González et al. / RECO : An AI-Powered Chatbot System for Optimizing Reverse Agri-Food Logistics and Fighting Food Insecurity in Colombia. Industrial Engineering and Operations Management - 10th North American Conference - Computer Science Tracks, IEOM-CS 2025, Proceedings. editor / Hector Florez ; Luis Rabelo ; Cesar Diaz. Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, 2026. pp. 193-209 (Communications in Computer and Information Science).

@inproceedings{b3412ddc48964c5483e19bcba33a7239,

title = "RECO: An AI-Powered Chatbot System for Optimizing Reverse Agri-Food Logistics and Fighting Food Insecurity in Colombia",

abstract = "Food waste management has become a critical global issue with significant economic, social, and environmental impacts. In Colombia, approximately 9.7 million tons of food are wasted annually, impacting food security and malnutrition. This research explores the role of artificial intelligence, particularly chatbots, in optimizing food distribution and minimizing waste. The proposed system, RECO Donation Manager, employs AI-powered chatbots integrated with PostgreSQL databases and geolocation services like Bing Maps to streamline food donations. The AI in the chatbots, powered by natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning (ML), improves user interaction, automates resource allocation, and ensures efficient food redistribution. The initial implementation highlights challenges in geolocation accuracy, data validation, and understanding NLP, emphasizing the need for further refinement. This study demonstrates the potential of AI-based solutions to mitigate food waste and foster sustainable resource management, offering a promising foundation for future advances in automated food donation systems.",

author = "S{\'a}nchez-G{\'o}mez, \{Juan Sebasti{\'a}n\} and Johanna Trujillo-D{\'i}az and Mina, \{Carla Fernanda Gonz{\'a}lez\} and Martinez, \{Cristian David Ayala\} and Ruiz, \{Francy Valentina Gamba\} and Mauricio Becerra-Fern{\'a}ndez and D{\'i}az-Piraquive, \{Flor Nancy\}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2026.; 10th North American Conference on Industrial Engineering and Operations Management – Computer Science Tracks, IEOM-CS 2025 ; Conference date: 17-06-2025 Through 19-06-2025",

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isbn = "9783031982347",

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Sánchez-Gómez, JS, Trujillo-Díaz, J, Mina, CFG, Martinez, CDA, Ruiz, FVG, Becerra-Fernández, M & Díaz-Piraquive, FN 2026, RECO: An AI-Powered Chatbot System for Optimizing Reverse Agri-Food Logistics and Fighting Food Insecurity in Colombia. in H Florez, L Rabelo & C Diaz (eds), Industrial Engineering and Operations Management - 10th North American Conference - Computer Science Tracks, IEOM-CS 2025, Proceedings. Communications in Computer and Information Science, vol. 2557 CCIS, Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, pp. 193-209, 10th North American Conference on Industrial Engineering and Operations Management – Computer Science Tracks, IEOM-CS 2025, Orlando, United States, 6/17/25. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-98235-4_14

RECO: An AI-Powered Chatbot System for Optimizing Reverse Agri-Food Logistics and Fighting Food Insecurity in Colombia. / Sánchez-Gómez, Juan Sebastián; Trujillo-Díaz, Johanna; Mina, Carla Fernanda González et al.
Industrial Engineering and Operations Management - 10th North American Conference - Computer Science Tracks, IEOM-CS 2025, Proceedings. ed. / Hector Florez; Luis Rabelo; Cesar Diaz. Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, 2026. p. 193-209 (Communications in Computer and Information Science; Vol. 2557 CCIS).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Inform › Conference contribution

TY - GEN

T1 - RECO

T2 - 10th North American Conference on Industrial Engineering and Operations Management – Computer Science Tracks, IEOM-CS 2025

AU - Sánchez-Gómez, Juan Sebastián

AU - Trujillo-Díaz, Johanna

AU - Mina, Carla Fernanda González

AU - Martinez, Cristian David Ayala

AU - Ruiz, Francy Valentina Gamba

AU - Becerra-Fernández, Mauricio

AU - Díaz-Piraquive, Flor Nancy

PY - 2026

Y1 - 2026

N2 - Food waste management has become a critical global issue with significant economic, social, and environmental impacts. In Colombia, approximately 9.7 million tons of food are wasted annually, impacting food security and malnutrition. This research explores the role of artificial intelligence, particularly chatbots, in optimizing food distribution and minimizing waste. The proposed system, RECO Donation Manager, employs AI-powered chatbots integrated with PostgreSQL databases and geolocation services like Bing Maps to streamline food donations. The AI in the chatbots, powered by natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning (ML), improves user interaction, automates resource allocation, and ensures efficient food redistribution. The initial implementation highlights challenges in geolocation accuracy, data validation, and understanding NLP, emphasizing the need for further refinement. This study demonstrates the potential of AI-based solutions to mitigate food waste and foster sustainable resource management, offering a promising foundation for future advances in automated food donation systems.

AB - Food waste management has become a critical global issue with significant economic, social, and environmental impacts. In Colombia, approximately 9.7 million tons of food are wasted annually, impacting food security and malnutrition. This research explores the role of artificial intelligence, particularly chatbots, in optimizing food distribution and minimizing waste. The proposed system, RECO Donation Manager, employs AI-powered chatbots integrated with PostgreSQL databases and geolocation services like Bing Maps to streamline food donations. The AI in the chatbots, powered by natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning (ML), improves user interaction, automates resource allocation, and ensures efficient food redistribution. The initial implementation highlights challenges in geolocation accuracy, data validation, and understanding NLP, emphasizing the need for further refinement. This study demonstrates the potential of AI-based solutions to mitigate food waste and foster sustainable resource management, offering a promising foundation for future advances in automated food donation systems.

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105015726957

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105015726957#tab=citedBy

U2 - 10.1007/978-3-031-98235-4_14

DO - 10.1007/978-3-031-98235-4_14

M3 - Conference contribution

AN - SCOPUS:105015726957

SN - 9783031982347

T3 - Communications in Computer and Information Science

SP - 193

EP - 209

BT - Industrial Engineering and Operations Management - 10th North American Conference - Computer Science Tracks, IEOM-CS 2025, Proceedings

A2 - Florez, Hector

A2 - Rabelo, Luis

A2 - Diaz, Cesar

PB - Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH

Y2 - 17 June 2025 through 19 June 2025

ER -

Sánchez-Gómez JS, Trujillo-Díaz J, Mina CFG, Martinez CDA, Ruiz FVG, Becerra-Fernández M et al. RECO: An AI-Powered Chatbot System for Optimizing Reverse Agri-Food Logistics and Fighting Food Insecurity in Colombia. In Florez H, Rabelo L, Diaz C, editors, Industrial Engineering and Operations Management - 10th North American Conference - Computer Science Tracks, IEOM-CS 2025, Proceedings. Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH. 2026. p. 193-209. (Communications in Computer and Information Science). doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-98235-4_14

RECO: An AI-Powered Chatbot System for Optimizing Reverse Agri-Food Logistics and Fighting Food Insecurity in Colombia

Abstract

Publication series

Conference

UN SDGs

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Access to Document

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Cite this