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During the COVID-19 pandemic, artificial intelligence and machine learning can significantly impact the food and beverage industry, including the manufacturing process.
FREMONT, CA: In general, people think of customer service and takeaway gig-economy services when they think of the food business. The COVID-19 pandemic and how it relates to developing or breaking food enterprises have just come to the fore. Innovative technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, and machine learning is maybe one of the last things that come to mind when discussing the food sector. These technologies have immensely impacted the food and beverage business.
Evolving the Manufacturing Process
Machine learning and AI influence every step of the process, whether it's in the food or beverage industries. For example, when it comes to preventing cross-contamination and maintaining good standards during a pandemic, hygiene is a vast and crucial aspect of the food business process.
These duties were laborious, time and resource-intensive, and highly costly if a mistake or oversight was made. This is no longer the case due to today's innovative technologies.
Machines can utilize robust ultrasonic sensors and fluorescence optical imaging to detect food remains on machinery, and microbial debris on the equipment, using a technology known as SOCIP, or Self-Cleaning-in-Place. This means machines have to be cleaned whenever necessary, and only in the parts that require cleaning.
Less Waste, More Transparency, Better Result
The waste component related to the food and beverage sector is a highly debated and criticized topic. AI is being used to follow every stage of the production and supply chain process worldwide, including tracking prices, maintaining inventory stock levels, and even tracking regions of origin.
Enhancing Food Safety Standards
Food safety standards are crucial to follow everywhere in the world, and rules seem to be getting tighter every time.
Food can be managed and processed by robots that operates with AI and machine learning, efficiently removing the possibility of contamination through touch. In addition, as robots and machinery cannot spread diseases in the same manner that humans do, the risk of it becoming a problem is reduced.
More Sustainable Growth
Food production, particularly in the meat and livestock sectors, consumes a lot of water and resources. It is both environmentally unsustainable and costly for the producers. AI is being used to regulate the power and water consumption required, making it as accurate as possible to help minimize expenses and become more sustainable. This has an immediate impact on manufacturing costs and profit margins in the food and beverage industry.