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Review
. 2022 Nov 17:5:2261-2269.
doi: 10.1016/j.crfs.2022.11.010. eCollection 2022.

Emerging trends in the agri-food sector: Digitalisation and shift to plant-based diets

Abdo Hassoun  1   2 , Fatma Boukid  3 , Antonella Pasqualone  4 , Christopher J Bryant  5 , Guillermo García García  6 , Carlos Parra-López  6 , Sandeep Jagtap  7 , Hana Trollman  8 , Janna Cropotova  9 , Francisco J Barba  10
Affiliations
Review

Emerging trends in the agri-food sector: Digitalisation and shift to plant-based diets

Abdo Hassoun et al. Curr Res Food Sci. .

Abstract

Our planet is currently facing unprecedented interconnected environmental, societal, and economic dilemmas due to climate change, the outbreak of pandemics and wars, among others. These global challenges pose direct threats to food security and safety and clearly show the urgent need for innovative scientific solutions and technological approaches. Backed by the current alarming situation, many food-related trends have emerged in recent years in response to these global issues. This review looks at two megatrends in agriculture and the food industry; the shift to vegetable diets and the digital transformation in food production and consumption patterns. On one side, several innovative technologies and protein sources have been associated with more sustainable food systems and enhanced nutritional quality and safety. On the other side, many digital advanced technologies (e.g., artificial intelligence, big data, the Internet of Things, blockchain, and 3D printing) have been increasingly applied in smart farms and smart food factories to improve food system outcomes. Increasing adoption of vegetal innovations and harnessing Industry 4.0 technologies along the food supply chain have the potential to enable efficient digital and ecological transitions.

Keywords: Digitalisation; Food industry 4.0; Precision agriculture; Smart food factory; Sustainability; Vegan; Vegetarian diets.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Figures

Image 1
Graphical abstract
Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Evolution of the number of publications reporting on digitalisation and plant-based foods from 2015 to 2021. Data were obtained from Scopus in October 2022 with the following search criteria: For digitalisation; TITLE (digitalisation) OR (industry 4.0) OR (fourth industrial revolution) AND TITLE-ABS-KEY (food) OR (agriculture). For plant-based foods; TITLE (plant-based food).
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
The main drivers and challenges of plant-based foods.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Digitalisation in the vegetal supply chain.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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