The global challenge of offering safe and sustainable food to an increasing population demands technological advancements. With the world population projected to exceed 9 billion by 2050, as projected by the United Nations, it has become more important than ever to manage the growing need for food supply and agricultural productivity. Amid the increase in the need to provide food to this thriving population, there arises a necessity for food packaging that helps negate the challenges that may arise concerning food preservation.
Considering the benefits of food preservation, there has been a significant shift in customer preferences towards convenient food processing and packaging options. This escalating demand for good-quality food, convenience and longer shelf life has led to the widespread adoption of cutting-edge technologies and trends in the food processing and packaging industry.
Technologies Used in the Food Processing Industry
In an era where there are abundant food options available, customers are not only inclined towards buying a product; they also wish to invest in quality assurance. Quality control in food processing and packaging has transformed from a mere selling point to an absolute necessity. Moreover, amid the increase in concerns over environmental degradation, there has been a rise in the requirements for sustainable packaging practices.
Adapting to this evolving food processing and packaging landscape can be daunting. Yet, with the help of the latest technologies, such as robotics, the Internet of Things (IoT) and smart packaging techniques, the adaptation can become easier to implement and manage.
Today, businesses are starting to use robotics in almost every industry while replacing physical labour. Robots that produce and package food now complete tasks in seconds that took humans hours to finish. Thus, they are capable of increasing production in response to consumer demand by processing and packing more food products in less time.
Apart from robotics, IoT can be employed to ensure the quality and safety of food items. For instance, sensors can be used for monitoring temperature and other elements that influence food quality, especially in edible oils, wheat flour, rice and salt. Such data may be utilised to optimise storage and transportation situations, ensuring that items remain at the proper temperature and humidity levels.
While IoT and robotics can play a pivotal role in maintaining food packaging standards, smart packaging can enable the tracking of food products by using QR codes or RFID tags. This will help make the supply chain more efficient while making it easier to manage the inventory. Additionally, it can also help in controlling the temperature as well as the environment. Smart packaging can be active or intelligent. Moisture and temperature are a couple of instances of environmental factors that active packaging may modify. Intelligent packaging uses codes or sensors to convey data about a product or package, as well as information about its position. It can also offer temperature data and track the product’s location in the supply chain while enhancing its transparency and efficiency.
Conclusion
As projected by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI), the food processing landscape in India is expected to reach $535 billion, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.2% by 2025–26. While the food packaging and processing industry continues to evolve, technological advancements remain at the forefront, contributing to its growth. From ensuring product safety to maintaining shelf life and promoting sustainability, technology has transformed the way companies package and launch food products. These advancements, along with some innovation in areas like smart packaging in the coming years, will not only contribute to the industry but will also lead to a more consumer-centric and sustainable future.
The author is the Director at Ghodawat Consumer Ltd.