Transforming Plant-Based Waste into Valuable Products Using Food Industry 4.0 Technologies: A Literature Review

Overview

Food systems face new pressures. Pandemics, climate change, and population growth push food security to the front. Waste and loss of food plague supply chains. We must reduce waste and repurpose by-products. In this review, technology and resourcefulness join closely to meet the need.

Key Insights

• Plant-Based Waste as a Resource
  Food production yields plant waste. This waste holds rich nutrients and bioactive compounds. Many plants yield by-products that we can extract and reuse. Their recovery boosts economies and helps the environment.

• Food Industry 4.0 Technologies
  New tech drives the Fourth Industrial Revolution. These tools work side by side with production work. The list includes:
  • Artificial Intelligence (AI)
  • Internet of Things (IoT)
  • Blockchain
  • Robotics
  • Smart Sensors
  • 3D Printing
  • Digital Twins
  Each technology helps control resources, track products, and optimize production with a close link between steps.

• Sustainability Impact
  These technologies change plant waste into useful products. Waste becomes a resource. This process cuts waste and lowers greenhouse gas emissions. It helps meet climate goals by keeping efforts connected.

Benefits of Industry 4.0 in Food Waste Valorization

• Enhanced Food Quality and Safety
  Sensors and tracking work together in real time. These methods keep standards high and build trust.

• Increased Operational Efficiency
  Automation and data work hand in hand. They speed production and lessen losses.

• Improved Environmental Sustainability
  Reducing waste lowers the environmental load. This process promotes a circular economy.

Conclusion

Food Industry 4.0 technologies build a bridge from waste to value. They turn nutrient-rich by-products into useful products. This method supports sustainable practices and innovation in food production. It also helps build food systems that are both resilient and efficient.

Reference: Aït-Kaddour et al. (2024). Transforming plant-based waste and by-products into valuable products using various “Food Industry 4.0” enabling technologies: A literature review. Science of The Total Environment, Vol. 955, Article 176872. DOI:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.176872

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