diff --git a/backend/core/Dockerfile b/backend/core/Dockerfile
index f220df64888d..b481cedc6e94 100644
--- a/backend/core/Dockerfile
+++ b/backend/core/Dockerfile
@@ -1,14 +1,19 @@
-FROM python:3.11-bullseye
+# Using a slim version for a smaller base image
+FROM python:3.11-slim-bullseye
 
-# Install GEOS library
-RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y libgeos-dev pandoc
+# Install GEOS library and clean up in one step
+RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y libgeos-dev pandoc && \
+    rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists/* && apt-get clean
 
 WORKDIR /code
 
-COPY ./requirements.txt /code/requirements.txt
+# Copy just the requirements first
+COPY ./requirements.txt .
 
-RUN pip install --no-cache-dir -r /code/requirements.txt --timeout 100
+# Increase timeout might not be necessary but is retained as in original
+RUN pip install --no-cache-dir -r requirements.txt --timeout 100
 
-COPY . /code
+# Copy the rest of the application
+COPY . .
 
 CMD ["uvicorn", "main:app", "--reload", "--host", "0.0.0.0", "--port", "5050"]