How Technology Enhances Food Quality and Safety

Food safety aims to create healthy, nutritious products that are not only appealing, accessible, exciting, and unique, but also long-lasting.

FREMONT, CA: The food industry has faced numerous challenges, disruptions, and uncertainties over the last three years. Significant, concurrent crises have put businesses at risk and harmed food production since 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic initially disrupted the food industry, and related issues such as product shortages and supply chain disruptions persist, but fortunately, technological advancements are improving the outlook for 2023.

The problems facing the food industry to be solved by technology

The digital transformation of the food industry will accelerate in 2023 as technology solutions progress from nice-to-have to essential. While the industry has historically been conservative in terms of technology adoption, the pandemic and the ongoing disruptions it has caused have increased the demand for digital tools. The industry is transforming. Without a doubt, technological solutions for all sizes of food businesses have become more affordable and accessible.

Precision and quality are critical

Integrated software can improve accuracy, which improves revenue, safety, quality, compliance, customer loyalty, and other important metrics. Strategic planning, inventory tracking, monitoring customer preferences, and anticipating future needs are all made easier by technological tools. When users notice errors, technological tools can assist them in determining whether they have a problematic employee or more widespread issues at a specific location. Based on this data, they can take corrective actions such as increasing training, adjusting processes, and changing systems.

The primary focus will be on food production

Climate change is threatening traditional farming methods, with extreme weather destroying crops and jeopardising the food supply. In 2023, expect to prioritise sustainable food production, such as vertical farming, in which crops are grown vertically in indoor warehouses. These indoor environments are covered from the elements including weather and pests and maintain ideal humidity, temperature, light, and watering conditions, allowing crops to be grown more efficiently and sustainably, resulting in higher yields. Technological advancements will aid in the advancement of sustainable farming, the construction of new infrastructure, the enhancement of visibility, and the increase of output.

Transparency should be raised across the supply chain

As per the regulations, food collectors, processors, and distributors must improve their record-keeping to ensure more comprehensive, consistent, end-to-end food traceability. Technological tools will improve traceability, transparency, safety, quality, and consistency as products move through the supply chain. While businesses have three years to comply, many will begin using digital solutions to organise, track, and manage suppliers' safety and quality assurance certifications.

Brands will diversify and become more accountable

Recruit a diverse workforce to reflect your company's increasingly diverse customer base. A diverse team will also bring to the company new ideas, perspectives, approaches, and solutions, resulting in improved problem-solving abilities, creativity, and innovation. Employees must be treated fairly and equitably. This is the right thing to do, so it will increase employee satisfaction, loyalty, productivity, motivation, and retention.