Lay summary
Our project is focused on empowering Kiwis' health by understanding their diet. Using the HRC Activation grant, we can catalyse our mahi by developing a food diary application that uses machine learning and intuitive design to make tracking diet and communicating with health professionals simple and easy. Our team includes Passio; industry-leading machine learning developers, and the User Interface Design department at Victoria University. Together we have developed the machine learning algorithms and the application design; the final activation step is to develop the application and put it in New Zealander’s hands. The potential for health empowerment in New Zealand is large, particularly for our Māori and Pacific whānau, whose diet has been traditionally left out of nutrition databases. This application will enable diet tracking and databases of foods to be adaptable and reflective of kai Aotearoa, providing a platform for health improvement by Kiwis, for Kiwis.