The food industry faces unprecedented challenges in the upcoming years as climate change threatens fertile land and the human population continues to grow. At our current rates, we will have 9.8 billion people on the face of the Earth by 2050, which means more hungry mouths to feed.
Sadly, we cannot increase the number of farms to match the growing population. We've already come close to the maximum utilization of arable land, and there are concerns about pollution and water consumption as well. The correct solution is implementing food industry technology that maximizes output and reduces waste.
New technology is making a difference in two main areas: the production stage, where food is grown, raised, and harvested, and transportation and storage, where food is taken from the farm to the dinner table.
Production
In the production stage, new food industry technology often falls under the umbrella of "smart farming," using new tools and technology to get more out of the same amount of land.
Internet of Things on The Farm
One way that farmers are looking to reduce waste and improve crop yields is by having more information on the well-being of their fields. This can be accomplished by using sensors planted in the soil to measure parameters such as soil composition, moisture, and temperature. These Internet of Things (IoT) sensors feed this information to industrial panel PCs, allowing them to monitor these parameters without going into the field.
These same computers can also coordinate and control robotic drones that can drastically expand a farm's operational capacity. These drones can deliver water and fertilizer precisely where it's needed rather than expend those resources blanketing the entire field at once.
Animal Husbandry and RFID Tagging
Animal husbandry is another area where new farm industry technology is making an impact, specifically implementing RFID tags. Tagging animals is nothing new, but RFID tags can be scanned to automatically access an animal's recorded history, such as whether it's been vaccinated recently, whether it can be milked, and whether it has any current offspring.
Aquaculture: Food From the Sea
Lastly, aquaculture, raising seafood for consumption, can benefit from many of the same technologies used on land. Additionally, with 70% of our planet's surface covered in water, aquaculture is poised to see massive expansion as the need for more food grows. IoT sensors and underwater drones can monitor and control critical factors affecting aquaculture, such as water temperature, nutrients, and disease detection. Of course, any computer or rugged industrial tablet used in aquaculture must be rugged and feature a waterproof front bezel.
Transportation and Storage
Another critical area of improvement for the food industry is how food is transported and stored. New food industry technology offers significant steps in managing supply chains, ensuring food is refrigerated throughout, and tracing shipments in case a recall is needed.
Refrigeration
Refrigeration and freezing are synonymous with food transportation and storage, and for good reason; it's the single greatest reason why we have a food supply system in the first place. The ability to preserve food for weeks, even months, not only makes it easier to transport, store, and sell food but also lets people enjoy a broader palette of food.
IoT-enabled sensors can help preserve refrigerated conditions inside a container or freezer by monitoring temperatures throughout the enclosure. Rather than rely on a single thermometer, multiple can be placed throughout the container and report to the same computer, alerting workers if a section is warmer than other parts and preventing thawing.
Stopping Food Waste
Stopping food waste is also critical to having a more efficient food industry. According to the EPA, 66 million tons of food went wasted in 2019 alone, with most of it rotting in landfills. One way to prevent this loss is through better supply chain management with electronic tracking systems, such as barcodes and RFID tags, to track packages and shipments. This alone would give companies better insight into how efficient their shipping is and prevent food from spoiling while in transit.
Digitally tracking packages also enhances traceability, which is absolutely critical if a foodborne illness breaks out and recalls need to be issued. By tracing contaminated food shipments back to their source, food companies can quickly and effectively identify and eliminate the source while sparing the rest of their inventory.
Closing Thoughts
Implementing new technology in the food industry is not just for the sake of greater profits; it will become an outright necessity as the human population on Earth continues to grow. Fortunately, these technologies are proven and ready for deployment; all it takes is the effort to do so.
If your food company is looking to upgrade with new tablets and computers, contact the team at Cybernet Manufacturing. Our devices are designed and manufactured to industrial-grade specifications and are flexible enough to work in a wide range of applications, including the food industry.
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