WAYS TECH WILL ELEVATE FOOD SAFETY AND QUALITY IN 2023

The food industry has faced three years of unprecedented challenges, disruptions and uncertainty. First, the COVID-19 pandemic upended the food industry, and now, product shortages and supply chain interruptions continue. Global food exports are stalled due to the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian war. Climate change is destroying traditional farming. And inflation has hit a 40-year high. But fortunately, things are looking better for 2023.

tools will boost traceability, transparency, safety, quality and consistency as products move through the supply chain.

5. Brands will audit differently. During the pandemic, remote auditing soared in popularity. This supported and reinforced the collaborative model, allowing employees to work closely with auditors to conduct inspections, look for infractions and take corrective actions.

1.Tech will help overcome the industry’s biggest challenges. Digital transformation will accelerate in 2023, as tech solutions continue morphing from “nice to have” to essential. Luckily, tech solutions have become more affordable and accessible for food businesses of all sizes.

2. Quality and accuracy are critical. Integrated software can boost accuracy, which will, in turn, boost other important metrics, such as revenue, safety, quality, compliance, customer loyalty and more. Tech tools help plan more strategically, track inventory, monitor customer preferences and anticipate upcoming needs.

3. Sustainable food production will take center stage. Expect to see prioritized sustainable food production, like vertical farming. These indoor spaces are protected from the elements (including weather and pests), and maintain ideal humidity, temperature, light and watering conditions to grow crops more efficiently and sustainably, resulting in higher yields.

4. Boost transparency throughout the supply chain. The new Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) and FDA’s New Era of Smarter Food Safety Initiative requires food harvesters, processors and distributors to enhance their record-keeping to ensure more comprehensive, consistent, end-to-end food traceability. Tech

6. Tech will help lessen the labor gap. As more people pursue jobs in the food industry, see tech innovations, including artificial intelligence, machine learning and automation, make daily tasks more efficient, accurate and safe.

7. Staff retention will remain essential. Brands will use competitive wages and attractive benefits packages (like tuition reimbursement, gym memberships, more PTO, access to tech tools) to maximize staff retention.

8. Change the way you train. It will become common to pivot from punitive cultures to a collaborative culture. This means that operators won’t just dictate what employees should do and expect employees to follow blindly. Instead, they’ll explain why the rules are in place, so employees will be more likely to comply.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

KARI HENSIEN president RizePoint

9. Brands will increase diversity and accountability. Hire a diverse workforce to ensure your staff represents an increasingly diverse customer base. A diverse team will have fresh ideas, perspectives, approaches and solutions.