Abstract:
Industry 4.0 technologies should be adopted in the current era of the digital economy to meet the
growing demand for food supply due to population growth, climate change, geopolitical
instability and resource scarcity. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a promising avenue
in ensuring food security and sustainability in food systems through optimization of the food
supply chain (FSC) from farm-to-fork and waste reduction along the FSC. More than 40-50% of
global food production is wasted throughout the FSC. This review examines the potential of AI in
addressing these challenges by optimizing food supply chain efficiency, reducing waste and
ensuring food safety as a sustainable approach in food systems. This comprehensive study was
conducted based on indexed journal articles published in the last 20 years, collected from
ScienceDirect and Google Scholar. AI-driven technologies such as machine learning, deep
learning, natural language processing, robotic process automation, advanced algorithms,
computer vision, image processing, Internet of Things (IoT) and data analytics capabilities were
explored in this review for optimizing the FSC. AI will play a crucial role in revolutionizing
traditional FSCs by enhancing resilience and mitigating risk through real-time, automated and
optimal data-driven decision making. AI enables the simplification and reconfiguration of supply
chain designs through learning, reasoning and self-correction. AI is important in ensuring
transparency, traceability, food safety and quality. A I ensure FSC optimization and waste
minimization by enabling precise demand forecasting through predictive analytics in market
trends, customer demands, climate change and seasonality. AI can be successfully applied in
inventory management, intelligent decision-making, freshness and spoilage monitoring of foods
and streamlining logistic operations. The review emphasizes the importance of adopting AI
technologies in FSC optimization to ensure sustainability in food systems while addressing the
barriers and challenges faced by developing countries.
