Emerging Trends in the Agri-Food Sector: Digitalisation and Shift to Plant-Based Diets

The review addresses significant challenges and transformative trends within the agri-food sector, focusing on the rapid digitalization and the growing shift towards plant-based diets. It highlights the integration of Industry 4.0 technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), big data (BD), blockchain, and robotics in agriculture and food production. These technologies are crucial in advancing smart farming and smart food factories, which enhance the sustainability and efficiency of food systems.

The rise in plant-based food consumption is driven by the environmental, health, and ethical benefits associated with reducing meat intake. However, the acceptance of such diets faces hurdles like food neophobia and concerns over sensory and nutritional qualities. The application of advanced digital technologies promises to address these barriers by improving the palatability, nutritional content, and overall acceptance of plant-based foods.

The review suggests that adopting digital solutions in the production and distribution of plant-based foods can significantly improve food security and sustainability. This includes everything from crop monitoring and disease prediction in agriculture to recipe development and process optimization in food manufacturing.

The synthesis concludes that while the potential for technology-driven transformation in the agri-food sector is immense, it requires significant investment and a shift in skills and attitudes towards technology to realize these benefits fully.