CEST2025

Food losses (FL) at the pre-consumption stages reach up to 14% according to the FAO. Although these losses may seem like a relatively small fraction of total FL, are often underestimated, contributing significantly to challenges to global food security and environmental sustainability. Emerging technologies can play a significant role in tackling inefficiencies across the supply chain, from the field to the point of commercialization. These difficulties are diverse and context-dependent, requiring the adoption of multiple solutions. Integration of novel technologies in a smart system adapted to the food chain, can prevent deterioration of commodities and set the base for a transformative shift toward more resilient and efficient food systems. Precision agriculture, powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) can lead to more data-driven farming practices, leading to significant advancements in crop monitoring, resource management, and decision-making processes. Blockchain can be seamlessly integrated into this system, improving food traceability, transparency, and ensuring the quality and safety of commodities. This research presents the capability of incorporating such novel technologies in the pre-consumption stages of the food supply chain along with the challenges, benefits, and limitations, compared to real-world applications in the food sector.