Le nuove tecnologie dell’Industria 4.0 nel settore agroalimentare. Esempi e applicazioni

With the digitalization of the production system, Industry 4.0 has arrived. It is a deep transformation of production processes that embraces many sectors, including the agri-food sector, where food safety and food quality represent two very complex issues. In this system, where the hygienic-sanitary aspects, the healthiness of food, the local traditions and the respect of the made in Italy are mandatory and no longer negligible requirements, the current regulations, certification mechanisms and guarantees adopted by the companies, may not be enough to provide the consumer with an objective feedback on food safety and food quality. Since product quality, food safety, transparency in communication and environmental and social sustainability are the drivers that guide purchasing decisions, the problems mentioned above could be addressed and partially solved through the integration of industry 4.0 technologies, like the Internet of Things (IoT), intelligent packaging, sensors, artificial intelligence and blockchain technology.