These devices can identify any anomalies at an early stage and alert employees so they can act quickly to fix the problem. Some supply chains deal with perishable products that require specific temperatures, making sensors even more critical. The food and beverage industry uses technology in a variety of areas, from behind the scenes in manufacturing to the front lines of a restaurant. Fortunately, AI solutions can take any guesswork out of it, allowing companies to use the information to perfect manufacturing processes. SavorEat is an Israeli startup developing plant-based meat using a combination of chef robots, patented 3D printing and non-GMO ingredients. Currently, the startup produces meatless burgers and plans to expand into steaks, kebabs and alternative seafood.
Technological innovations from the food industry allow entrepreneurs to better understand customers and offer them something more than they expect. For example, the latest quality management and traceability software prevents a low-quality product from appearing in consumer hands. From the context of food processing technology and technology in the food industry, automated machines and robots are used to control food quality. In addition, it adds stability to food factories or even restaurants, which need to optimize inventory management. However, most food companies still rely on decades of techniques to manage agricultural products that result in inefficient processes and the loss of agricultural products. For example, technology can help monitor the gas that fruits and vegetables excrete when they are ripe.
Take recent EU food regulations together with the growing demand for healthy and “clean” products and therefore new challenges have arisen for food and beverage manufacturers. How can the highest level of quality be achieved and the image of the brand not be damaged? The fast food industry is already opening its doors to the emerging market by offering “meatless” options on its menus. Innovations are also coming in the form of other protein-based products that try to appeal to the preferences of people looking for a more plant-based diet, without compromising on taste and nutrition. The food industry is transforming digitally, so everyone involved in the process, from producers to restaurants, needs to adapt.
Consumers are shifting to alternative protein sources due to both health and environmental issues, making it one of the most prominent trends in food technology. Cultured meat, lab-grown foods, plant-based foods, edible insects and mycoproteins are the main alternative protein sources. Not only are they rich in nutrients, but they also minimize the use of farm-to-table resources, unlike animal protein.
French startup Qualizy offers a software-as-a-service platform to automate food safety compliance in restaurants. The startup helps food and beverage companies quickly comply with local food safety regulations without paperwork. Food 3D printers enable personalized diet and alternative protein-based meals, as well as accurate and reproducible nutrition. While Israeli Innovation material extrusion is the most common method of printing food, startups are using laser and inkjet food printing, as well as bioprinting methods, to develop food products. Because food brands need products with exact specifications and high-quality reproducibility, more research is being done into the 3D printing of food for large-scale food production.
In addition, Ghost Kitchen enables data-driven planning services through a shared data collection of all individual kitchens. In fact, the startup minimizes contract and interior design costs by directly offering independent kitchens for restaurants and other food delivery entrepreneurs. In addition, Voll Sante’s nutraceutical products help consumers prevent chronic diseases and thus reduce healthcare costs. The startup’s nutraceuticals are available as protein and vitamin supplements, immunity boosters and breakfast cereals. With the growing demand for direct delivery to consumers, including restaurant and grocery delivery and meal kits, technology is needed to track food and ensure food is safely packaged and delivered. Industry experts believe that automation would be an efficient solution to eliminate the shortage of unskilled labor in Western countries.