Transforming food industry and supply chain through digital innovation to reduce food waste: a systematic review

Abstract

Food waste represents a complex global challenge with significant environmental, economic, and social implications. Emerging digital technologies (DTs), which are reshaping food supply chains by enhancing efficiency, resilience, and sustainability, hold significant potential to reduce this waste. This study aims to investigate areas where DTs have the potential to reduce food waste in the food industry and downstream supply chain and identify the mechanisms through which they contribute to this goal. To address this aim, the study employs a systematic review of publications indexed in the Web of Science database covering 2020-2025. Based on 73 studies selected from 488 identified records, the study summarizes the current knowledge on the impacts of digital solutions, emphasizing their role in enabling food quality monitoring, process optimization, traceability, and dynamic inventory management. In addition to the potential benefits, this study also discusses the possible negative impacts associated with the adoption of DTs in the food sector. Thus, the study contributes to the knowledge base on the consequences of digital solutions and identifies key research gaps. While existing studies highlight the potential of DTs to reduce food waste, data-driven evidence remains limited. This constrains the evaluation of DT impacts and complicates decision-making, not only for firms considering their adoption but also for policymakers aiming to support their broader implementation.