The way in which we manage the conditions during the transport of fresh products causes big losses in value. Fruit transport alone, for example, involves a value loss of 5-8%. TNO and Wageningen Food & Biobased Research are responsible for a new study in which parties will investigate how we can use and apply the Internet of Things (IoT). In particular, they focus on solutions in fresh-logistics and the associated waste flow.
What is an IoT system?
An Internet of Things system consists of several separate parts that measure things and communicate with each other. For example, data can be collected and measurements can be communicated.
The companies that will collaborate in this research focus on fruit import (Van Oers United), sensor solutions (EMS), fruit & vegetable packaging (Europool Systems), Cloud and IoT services (Sensortransport, Internethuis), knowledge valorisation (SmartPort), and refrigerated transport (Thermoking).
The research
The research will focus on improving the way in which existing sensors are used. In addition, the use of new types of sensors is also being examined. Another direction in which research is being conducted is how logistics decision-making can be adjusted so that it is in line with the ripening of fresh products. These are things such as priority treatment at terminals, reducing ripening in maturing stations, and accelerating transport to retail.
Jan-Kees Boerman, founder-owner and general manager of EMS, lets us know the following. “The potential value of IoT in the fresh food chain is widely recognized, but the key question is which business model can remove the current barriers to adoption. This research contributes significantly to this. ”