In the storage and ripening sectors, many companies with advanced products are already a fixture in the fight against food waste/loss in the first phase after the production process. Timing and circulation in storage is crucial for transport and distribution! There are also many benefits to be gained from smart packaging of products. This phase in the food cycle is decisive to get fresh products, fresly into the retail market.



Packaging, storage and ripening

Refridgeration technology

Storage control

Efficient ripening

The Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority ensures that fresh products are processed safely. The production of fresh produce is a sector that has many different goals.  From processing food products  with a best-before date, instant or a fresh product in itself! Profit can be made in all parts. Upscaling through the reuse of residual flows is already a standard component. In addition, advanced extraction technologies are new opportunities for profit.



Processing

Extraction technology

Bio-based production

Smart Processing

Re-Use Residual Flows

Automization

In order to make a profit in Agro production by scaling up, various segments of the production are being considered.  A lot of profit can be made in the breeding laboratory to give seeds an even more sustainable lifespan, but air conditioning, water management and soil research are also a player in making crops more durable and expand their shelf-life! 

There are sustainable solutions in many areas during the harvest to prevent loss. Of course, car fleets and machinery are becoming more advanced and can be used more and more accurately with data analyzes and GPS.



Production and post harvesting

Research

Seed breeding

Water management

Data analyzing

Digi-Tech

Advanced Features

Optimized farming floor

Climatization

Automation solutions

Robotization

Advanced machines

Both in the catering industry and in the retail sector, a lot of thought is already being given to avoiding unnecessary food waste.  Systems are becoming more and more sophisticated and expanded, while also is been looking at to avoid throwing products away.  From composting to dynamic discounting of products on the shelf. All parts help to achieve the goal.  Advanced refrigeration and data systems also have a major impact on the shelf life of products. 

Offering Bio-Based products, for example, is a sustainable solution, both for the customer and for the entire food sector, as well as for recycling products afterwards. 

Just like in all segments of the food cycle, the mind-set is the most important element.
The solutions, innovations and creativity are mainly in the mind-set of people. The biggest innovation is that we start to think differently. That it will become commonplace not to waste food. That we no longer think about it, but it becomes automatic. In practice, this creates new opportunities, by sincerely wanting to find a new solution. Food waste can be tackled with a lot of technology throughout the industry, but the mindset is the most important factor in the success of everything. Without this, all technical innovations are out of work. Implementation of Innovation requires a change of mentality! 



Retail

Mindset

Education

Data systems

It is obvious that precise navigation and time schedules guarantee fast distribution. There is always a lot to be gained here to prevent foodwaste. Data coordination and distribution specifications help to keep products fresh and limit food loss!!




Distribution

Data Coordination

Conditioned transport

Precision navigation

The solutions, innovations and creativity are therefore mainly in the mindset of people. The greatest innovation here is, is that we start to think differently. That it becomes commonplace not to waste food. That we stop thinking about it, but it happens automatically. This creates new opportunities in practice, by genuinely wanting to propose a new solution.  Reasonable options:

- Portion buying behavior.
- Consciously search for the possibilities and make them your own.
- Make it a habit.
- Look for the best conditions necessary to facilitate recycling.
- See it as a game and make it a competition with others.

- Calculatie onderzoek verwachte afzet/ benodigdheden
- Voorlichtingscampagnes (voor consumenten)
- Consortium-samenwerkingen om kennis te delen

For example, GPS data-driven schedules that signal when transport irregularities occur can reduce transport loss. Research and use the most efficient stacking and loading options to transport goods.

There are various options within this segment that can contribute to the prevention of food waste or food loss, and / or the scaling up of production or profit:

-     Consortium collaborations to share knowledge
-     Identifying your loss in produce or processing, and know the amount!
-     Training Staff
-     Partnerships with training courses, universities or other education institutions.
-     Research of universities or other education institutions.

Choosing the right compound seed for the crop results in stronger cultivation and less loss in the process.

Seed Breeding can be of great value to developing new varieties of crops that have higher yielding, better  disease resistant, that can better withstand drought or are better adapted to different growing conditions, environments or  regions.

Also vernalization can be implementated to improve growth.

Irrigation, drainage and general water management must take into account all different forms of water use. This results in the use of the correct quantities and an improved amount of the use of water in cultivation. It increases growth and yield.  And as side effects, less water consumption.

-     As an example, advanced filtering techniques can be applied the water network.
-     Drip solutions were proposed and tested on site, season and climatic conditions.

There are various options within this segment that can contribute to the prevention of food waste or food loss, and / or the scaling up of production or profit:

-     Measuring Waste by advanced calculations.
-     Collect data for production based on demand and focus on seasons.
-     Better forecasting.
-     The possibility to track food through all stages of production, processing and distribution to tackle FW&FL in an early stage.
-     Analising soil moisture in open field for better growing.
-     With Soil and Plant-data we can prepare stronger cultivation and less loss in the process.

There are various options within this segment that can contribute to the prevention of food waste or food loss, and / or the scaling up of production or profit:

-     Application of modern Information & Communication Technologies into agriculture and hortibusiness to obtain a more productive and sustainable production.
-     Can help farmers make decisions of their crops as well as reduce the environmental impact and make more sustainable.

Think about: 

-     Deployment of drones to collect data through crop monitoring.
-     Using microdrones to detect problems.
-     Use of solar panels to protect soft fruit from damage.

As well in open field as to horticulture, there are various options within a farming floor that can contribute to the upscaling of production or profit and the prevention of food waste and loss.

Think about:

-     Optimizing the construction and/or the construction-area to the local conditions.
-     Preparing  and designing the construction for implementation of sustainable applications, such as solar and water management.
-     Optimalization on the space needed for different variations of plant species.
-     Measurements to the required light absorption of different plant species and local conditions.
-     Options on Vertical Farming.

Temperature controllers and other automation systems can optimize the production quality and thus prevent losses. Achieving a homogeneous, optimal climate for greenhouses benefits to a stronger crop. An optimal climate for breeding  also benefits to reduce water use and energy costs. Think about: 

-     Measuring instruments
-     Ventilation, heating and cooling systems.
-     Different lightning options

There are various options within this segment that can contribute to the prevention of food waste or food loss, and /or the scaling-up of production and profit:

-     Implementatie van apparatuur om afval te meten om geavanceerde berekeningen voor te bereiden.
-     Sensing by automation,  soil moisture and soil type can help farmers identify precisely what is the condition of their soil.
-     Careful and focused analysis  on soil conditions can map the farmland and identify health conditions of the crop.

Robotized,  automated and self-steering equipment and machinery within the cultivation or harvest can shorten work processes and speed up the flow into the food cycle,  that benefits the shelf life and premature ripening of products on forehand.

With implementation of automated and self-steering components, machinery or other production and harvest fascilities, processes can go more smooth and  gentler treatment to products and so better prevention to losses. 

The application of automated and self-steering components within the cultivation or harvest can speed up processes so that problems are noticed earlier. With the implementation of automated and self-driving components, machines or other production and harvesting facilities, processes can run more smoothly and in this way prevent losses. With automated tractors and harvesters, the soil can be cultivated in the right place in the field with, for example, GPS signals. Think about:

-     Use of electric and automized tractors and harvesters

Extraction technology is one of the fastest evolving manufacturing processes, but also one of the oldest processes used in the food chain. Save flavors, colors and active ingredients in stead of throwing away these usefull ingredients. These can be used in varies products, also on non-food products. Think about implementing machinery to extract components previously treated as waste. Use the newly extracted ingredients in other products or make it a new product for sale.

Most used types of biomass are starch, sugar and wood, mainly in classic processes, but natural fibres can be used in a lot of new products that also meets the non-food sector. But most important make a big impact on the circular economy. For example, food scraps are being used in soap and tomato plant stems for packaging material!

-     Making soup or other ready meals from imperfect products.
-     Making an alternative to animal leather, by using fibers and fruit peels for leather  substitutes.
-     Not only ordinary waste such as stems from tomato plants, but also imperfect products reduce waste in this way.    

For example, using mild process technologies like ‘pulsed electric field’ (PEF) is prolonging shelf life without quality loss.

The re-use of residual flow scan be obtained from extraction technologies.

-     For example, rest-flow of fruit processed in factory products can be used as extraction material. But the other way round Extractions can be residual flow too

Cooling or searching for the right environmental atmosphere are influensers on distribution and storage of fresh products. Different fruits and vegetables will have differend criteria in climatisation. But also important in storage refridgeration technology:

-     The shape and the design (boxes and the earodynamics of the equipment)
-     Data history of the cooled products

Within this segment there are various options that can contribute to the prevention of food waste or food loss within a production line, such as:

-     Using robotic quality inspection on the line.
-     Softer and more precise handling through automated handling and processing of products.

Controlled atmosphere storage extends shelf life. Different fruits and vegetables will have different criteria for adapted or conditioned storage. But also important for storage control:

-     Smart labeling
-     Scan throughput and collection in time!  So that measures can be taken in the event of imminent loss.

-     Measuring Waste by advanced calculations.
-     Better Labeling and prevent confusing' best before date labels

Accurated efficient ripening  prolonges storage and shelf life or can make an efficient timescedule for transport. Different fruits and vegetables will have differing criteria for efficient Ripening. But also important in the ripening process:

-     The shape and the design (boxes and the earodynamics of the equipment)
-     How the flow of air is as efficiently distributed and optimized among the pallets and boxes in the ripening room. Which means that there is homogeneous ripening.

There are various options within this segment that can contribute to the prevention of food waste or food loss during transport:

-     Temperature tracking!
-     Vacuum cooling, to reduce the temperature in a short time (important at the first export)
-     Better and digital Labeling and prevent confusing about conditioning.

GPS data operated schedules that signal and counters when any irregularities occur during the delivery cycle, can for example reduce loss in transport. It simply counters delays. Also important at navigation:

- Measuring Waste by advanced calculated delivery lines.

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