Tracking Food Supply Chains with Sensor Technology

Why do businesses need to track the food supply chain?

Food tracking makes it possible to perceive food products' production, transformation, shipping, delivery, and trade. It secures the security and quality of the food supply to prevent food-borne diseases and reduce the effects of food recalls. However, there remain many challenges in global food distribution, including optimal storage condition maintenance, real-time tracking and tracing accountability, safety standards conformity, and minimisation of wastage.

This article discusses how businesses can use sensor technologies to overcome food supply chain challenges!

Understanding Sensor Technology in Food Supply Chains

Sensor technology involves devices that can detect and measure physical properties like temperature, humidity, and movement. These properties are crucial in monitoring food supply chains.

There are several types of sensors often used in food supply chains, including:

• Temperature sensors that can monitor and control the temperature of perishable goods.
• Humidity sensors prevent spoilage by ensuring the humidity level remains within safe ranges.
• Moisture sensors determine the water content in food products, controlling drying processes and enhancing storage conditions. This ensures better product quality when distributing.
• PH sensors monitor food products' acidity or alkalinity, which is essential for certain foods, such as dairy products.
• Bio and gas sensors to detect pathogens, allergens, toxins, and gases. Monitoring product freshness, controlling atmospheric conditions, and ensuring safety are crucial.
• Optical sensors to assess food quality and characteristics based on colour, size and shape,
• RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tags are attached to food products and used to track them throughout the supply chain using radio waves.
• GPS (Global Positioning System) trackers provide real-time location data for tracking shipments.
• Barcodes are also often used to identify and track food traceability using a unique code.

Integrating sensors into containers, trucks, and storage facilities can improve continuous monitoring and data collection. This data is then transmitted to a centralised system for analysis. This real-time data allows immediate action when issues are detected.

Ensuring Food Safety and Quality with Sensor Technology

Sensor technology is vital for ensuring the safety and quality of foods as they travel. With a sensor, we can monitor environmental parameters like humidity or varying heat levels, guaranteeing the preservation of perishable products. For instance, keeping vegetables at the proper humidity level prevents them from wilting, while temperature control is essential for dairy and meat products. This method can achieve early detection of spoilage or contamination with significant signs, including the rise and fall of abnormal temperatures.

For businesses to adhere to stringent laws governing food products, there must be documented proof showing how different stages in production were handled up to when they were finally offered to clients, reducing supply chain risk and compliance costs.

Furthermore, the collected data creates feedback loops that allow companies to refine their processes and continuously improve overall quality. This integration of safety and quality control through sensor technology enhances the reliability of food supply chains and ensures that consumers receive the highest quality products.

Conclusion 

• Sensor technology transforms food supply chains by providing real-time monitoring and data analysis, improving safety and quality.
• It addresses critical challenges in global food distribution, such as maintaining optimal conditions, tracking products, complying with safety regulations, reducing waste and ensuring transparency.

Choosing the suitable sensor technology is crucial for enhancing the efficiency and safety of food distribution. As a leading telecom partner, Your Comms Group provides expert guidance in selecting and implementing IoT Business Solutions, including the best sensor solutions for your business.

In addition, as technology evolves, sensor technology plays an increasingly vital role in food distribution. Your Comms Group stays ahead of trends and innovations, offering cutting-edge solutions to meet global food demands and ensure food security. Align your business with the latest advancements through Your Comms Group's expertise.