What Is Foodtech? The field of Foodtech focuses on the production, preservation, quality control, and research of foods. The industry will also focus on sustainability, traceability, and online restaurant marketplaces. In this article, we'll cover a few of the important aspects of Foodtech. Read on to learn more about these topics and other career opportunities. Foodtech will continue to grow. And as you read on, you may want to get started now! Here are a few tips to help you get started. Traceability If you're interested in the latest trends in food tech, you've probably wondered what the future holds for traceability. Today, technology has made it possible to track products back to the source, improving consumer safety and the overall food industry's transparency. Traceability is essential for both manufacturers and consumers to understand where their food comes from and how to get the most from it. Here's a quick look at what this means for the industry. Blockchain-based applications like Tracifier can help manufacturers prove the authenticity of their products to their customers. By storing information about production, the blockchain allows consumers to get the full story about where their food comes from. It also allows supermarkets to gather large amounts of data about food, making it possible to track the entire production process. One major supermarket chain, Auchan Retail, has been utilizing blockchain technology to improve traceability. The company's food safety campaigns include "good, local, and fresh." The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) is poised to come into effect in 2023, making it essential for manufacturers to adopt traceability technologies. This legislation requires complex technologies to keep the food safe and reduce the cost of recalls. The food industry is committed to creating a traceability solution, and is working to do so through various initiatives, including the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). In the meantime, traceability technologies are paving the way for manufacturers and retailers to better track the supply chain of their products. The food traceability market is split into two segments, based on the types of equipment used to implement the solution. This segment includes devices such as 2D QR codes, thermal printers, and GPS. In addition to these devices, other technologies that make it possible to track products include sensors. Two-dimensional QR codes are widely used in the pharmaceutical industry and grocery industry. IoT-led food traceability solutions have brought about a sensor-based food tech market. As the food supply chain becomes increasingly globalized, it becomes more difficult to trace products. Raw ingredients are grown in one country, processed in another, and sold in a third. With these challenges, food companies are developing technologies to deliver lot-level whole-chain traceability data directly to consumers. This technology can also alert consumers of recalled products and facilitate investigations into foodborne illness. So, what exactly is the future of traceability? Sustainability A new sense of urgency has swept the food industry, and the world at large, in the form of the COVID era. Foodtech, or agriculture and food technology, is the development of technology to produce and distribute food and beverages while minimizing environmental impacts. The main goals of food tech include improving the consumer experience, promoting farm-to-table options, and streamlining distribution and delivery. A growing emphasis on last mile transportation will continue to be the main focus of the industry, as companies strive to create products that are sustainable for the environment and beneficial for the planet. Agricultural and foodtech innovations are growing at a rapid pace. Hydroponic farming, robotics AI, and improved fertilizers are enabling sustainable production of food and produce in cities, as well as augmented local distribution opportunities for foodtech platforms. Foodtech innovation is becoming more connected to the consumer, and innovations like these are paving the way to a sustainable future. Several companies are developing technologies that will make it possible to grow more food, produce, and materials without compromising on the environment. Food Tech startups are also tackling the problem of food waste and sustainability. While they only represent a small portion of the agrifood industry, they have become an important sector vanguard. Many food tech startups are now listed on the Nasdaq technological stock exchange. The famous laboratory vegetable burger Beyond Meat has received funding from billionaire Bill Gates and Hollywood star Leonardo Di Caprio. The era of sustainable agriculture is not yet over. Sustainable food has become more prevalent due to the onset of climate change, which is putting into question current development models. The need to understand the impact of environmental changes on the world is critical in face of growing food and cultural challenges. Foodtech sustainability, in particular, means understanding how to create foods that are healthier for the world and reduce environmental impacts. Developing sustainable food technology and ingredients, meanwhile, requires an active commitment on the part of manufacturers and consumers alike. Another area where FoodTech is making strides is in the field of 3d printing. Through 3D printing, food products can be printed with intricate designs that are impossible to achieve using traditional manufacturing methods. Robotics are also becoming an increasingly popular part of restaurant kitchens. These robotics can automate dishes, cut meat and vegetables, and even suggest menu items based on the tastes of their diners. These technologies help restaurants to focus on customer service, rather than on mundane tasks. Elimination of food waste The elimination of food waste through food tech is a growing trend in cities. Food wastage has been neglected and even downplayed in some areas. By implementing new solutions, the food industry can reduce its own emissions by 50% by 2030. Here are some of the technologies that may help eliminate food waste. In addition to composting, food waste also generates fuel, manure, and other materials. It is estimated that every year, an average of 20 kilograms of food is wasted worldwide. According to Growth Market Reports, the foodtech market is expected to grow at a substantial growth rate. The largest category of food waste globally is fruits and vegetables. Many food retailers and the USDA impose strict standards on fruit and vegetable aesthetics and functionality. As a result, about one-third of produce is rejected by grocery stores. This translates into over 10 billion pounds of produce not being harvested, sold, or consumed. In addition, some technology can prevent food waste by predicting which items are likely to go bad and which ones will be eaten. Another innovative technology is digital tools that can identify when food is about to spoil. For example, value-added processing is one way to reduce food waste. By identifying the time and place where food is at its most vulnerable, companies can better prepare the waste. Consequently, companies can maximize the value of the products they manufacture. Furthermore, they can reduce their environmental impact by saving energy. Finally, a company can also improve its packaging to reduce the likelihood of food waste. New technologies such as blockchain technology and artificial intelligence can be utilized to track food safety issues. By interpreting consumer feedback and identifying trends, the technology can prevent food from going bad. By facilitating product recalls and reducing food waste, consumers will be more aware of the ingredients in their products and the ingredients that they consume. By using new food technology, these new technologies are set to transform the food waste industry. These technologies can also help food service providers reduce the amount of food they need to discard. Using technology to track food waste is not only an effective way to reduce food waste in households, but can be applied in commercial kitchens as well. This tech can encourage employees to reuse leftover ingredients. One example is the University of California San Francisco hospital system that implemented LeanPath to reduce food waste by 35 percent. Elimination of food waste through foodtech is an increasingly attractive prospect and could have a huge impact on our planet. Online restaurant marketplaces One of the most crucial features of online restaurant marketplaces is the ease of ordering. The ordering process must be transparent and intuitive. For instance, customers should be able to search for their favorite restaurants, select the dishes they want, and pay through their preferred payment gateway. In addition, the payment feature should be easy to use and intergrade with other payment gateways. Payments should also be secure, ensuring that the customer's payment information is not shared. The growth of online restaurant marketplaces is being driven by several factors. The number of customers ordering food online is on the rise, and the digital restaurant marketplaces are taking advantage of it. According to one research, food delivery demand will increase by 50% by 2020. The market size of digital restaurant marketplaces in the US is estimated at US$ 64 billion. DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub are three major players in this market. These companies all focus on the restaurant industry, and have taken advantage of the technology. Online restaurant marketplaces help foodservice suppliers monitor the purchasing habits of new and existing customers. In addition to helping vendors target new customers, digital marketplaces promote the best products. Buyers are also able to browse products from multiple vendors, thereby enhancing their search experience. This convenience is made even easier by online food software. Online restaurant marketplaces are foodtech solutions that make life easier for buyers. They help them choose products from a variety of vendors and help them place orders. The emergence of online restaurant marketplaces is fueling growth in foodtech. A number of thirdparty delivery marketplaces, like Grubhub, are consolidating and scaling up to lower costs. And Caviar, a foodtech company that was valued at $100 million three years ago, sold for EUR100 million to DoorDash for a huge premium. These companies are now competing to own the entire customer journey. POS systems for foodservice are ubiquitous, but they are often industry-specific. Some of these systems only provide payment processing. Other startups are trying to fill these gaps. OpenTable, for example, offers an online reservation system that lets diners find new restaurants, read reviews, and place orders. Resy, another competing service, offers tech-driven booking services for high-end restaurants. And since the world is fast-moving, food delivery apps will only continue to increase.