Thefood industry is a complex, global network of diversebusinesses that supplies most of thefood consumed by theworld's population. The food industry today has become highly diversified, with manufacturing ranging from small, traditional, family-run activities that are highly labour-intensive, to large, capital-intensive and highly mechanized industrial processes. Many food industries depend almost entirely on localagriculture,animal farms,produce, and/orfishing.[1]
It is challenging to find an inclusive way to cover all aspects of food production and sale. The UKFood Standards Agency describes it as "the whole food industry – fromfarming andfood production, packaging and distribution, to retail and catering".[2] TheEconomic Research Service of theUSDA uses the termfood system to describe the same thing, stating: "The U.S. food system is a complex network of farmers and the industries that link to them. Those links include makers of farm equipment and chemicals as well as firms that provide services to agribusinesses, such as providers of transportation and financial services. The system also includes the food marketing industries that link farms to consumers, and which include food and fiber processors, wholesalers, retailers, and foodservice establishments."[3] The food industry includes:
Regulation: local, regional, national, and international rules and regulations for food production and sale, includingfood quality,food security,food safety, marketing/advertising, and industry lobbying activities
Most food produced for the food industry comes from commodity crops using conventional agricultural practices. Agriculture is the process of producing food, feeding products, fiber and other desired products by the cultivation of certain plants and the raising of domesticated animals (livestock). On average, 83% of the food consumed by humans is produced using terrestrial agriculture. In addition to terrestrial agriculture, aquaculture and fishing play vital roles in global food production. Aquaculture involves the cultivation of aquatic organisms such as fish, shrimp, and mollusks in controlled environments like ponds, tanks, or cages. It contributes significantly to the world's seafood supply and provides an important source of protein for human consumption. Fishing, on the other hand, relies on harvesting wild aquatic species from oceans, rivers, and lakes, further diversifying the sources of food for human populations and supporting livelihoods in coastal communities worldwide. Together, terrestrial agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing collectively ensure a diverse and ample supply of food to meet the dietary needs of people across the globe.[8]
Scientists, inventors, and others devoted to improving farming methods and implements are also said to be engaged in agriculture. One in three people worldwide are employed in agriculture,[9] yet it only contributes 3% to globalGDP.[10] In 2017, on average, agriculture contributes 4% of national GDPs.[8] Global agricultural production is responsible for between 14 and 28% of global greenhouse gas emissions, making it one of the largest contributors toglobal warming, in large part due to conventional agricultural practices, includingnitrogen fertilizers and poorland management.[8]
Agronomy is the science and technology of producing and using plants for food, fuel, fibre, andland reclamation. Agronomy encompasses work in the areas ofplant genetics,plant physiology,meteorology, andsoil science. Agronomy is the application of a combination of sciences. Agronomists today are involved with many issues including producing food, creating healthier food, managing theenvironmental impact of agriculture, and extracting energy from plants.[11]
Food processing includes the methods and techniques used to transform raw ingredients into food for human consumption. Food processing takes clean, harvested or slaughtered and butchered components and uses them to produce marketable food products. There are several different ways in which food can be produced.[12]
One-off production: This method is used when customers make an order for something to be made to their own specifications, for example, awedding cake. The making of one-off products could take days depending on how intricate the design is.[citation needed]
Batch production: This method is used when the size of the market for a product is not clear, and where there is a range within aproduct line. A certain number of the same goods will be produced to make up a batch or run, for example a bakery may bake a limited number ofcupcakes. This method involves estimatingconsumer demand.[citation needed]
The food industry has a large influence onconsumerism. Organizations, such as TheAmerican Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), have been criticized for accepting monetary donations from companies within the food industry, such asCoca-Cola.[13] These donations have been criticized for creating a conflict of interest and favoring an interest such as financial gains.[13]
The Jungle (1906 novel byUpton Sinclair that exposed health violations and unsanitary practices in the Americanmeat packing industry during the early 20th century, based on his investigation for a socialist newspaper)
TheBretton Woods Institutions - The World Bank andInternational Monetary Fund - play a large role in how the food industry functions today.[14] These global funds were born after World War II, to help rebuild Europe and prevent another Great Depression. Overall, their main purpose was to stabilize economies.[14] The IMF provided short term loans while the World Bank was focused on larger projects that would bring electricity back to cities, roads, and other "essential" needs.[15] The World Banks mission and purpose, however, transformed as its President Robert McNamara issued a system of loans known asStructural Adjustment. In accepting loans from the World Bank, countries - especially the Global South - became economically, politically, and socially tied to the West.[16] Many countries struggled to pay back their loans, beginning the process of global debt, privatization, and the downfall of local economies.[17] As a result of Western intervention, many small scale farmers have been displaced, as US corporations have bought out land in other countries and continued to monopolize on food.[18] Today, several multinational corporations have pushed agricultural technologies on developing countries including improved seeds, chemical fertilizers, and pesticides, crop production.[19]
In 2020 scientists reported that reducing emissions from the globalfood system is essential to achieving theParis Agreement'sclimate goals.[20][21] In 2020, an evidence review for theEuropean Union'sScientific Advice Mechanism found that, without significant change, emissions would increase by 30–40% by 2050 due to population growth and changing consumption patterns, and concluded that "the combined environmental cost of food production is estimated to amount to some $12 trillion per year, increasing to $16 trillion by 2050".[22] TheIPCC's and theEU's reports concluded that adapting the food system to reduce greenhouse gas emissions impacts and food security concerns, while shifting towards asustainable diet, is feasible.[8]
Since World War II, agriculture in the United States and the entire national food system in its entirety has been characterized by models that focus on monetaryprofitability at the expense of social and environmental integrity.[23] Regulations exist to protect consumers and somewhat balance this economic orientation with public interests for food quality, food security, food safety, animal well-being, environmental protection and health.[24]
In 2020, researchers published projections and models of potential impacts ofpolicy-dependent mechanisms of modulation, or lack thereof, ofhow, where, and what food is produced. They analyzed policy-effects for specific regions or nations such as reduction ofmeat production and consumption, reductions infood waste and loss,increases in crop yields and internationalland-use planning. Their conclusions include that raising agricultural yields is highly beneficial for biodiversity-conservation in sub-Saharan Africa while measures leading to shifts of diets are highly beneficial in North America and that global coordination and rapid action are necessary.[25][26][27]
A vast global cargo network connects the numerous parts of the industry. These include suppliers, manufacturers, warehousers, retailers and the end consumers.)Wholesale markets for fresh food products have tended to decline in importance inurbanizing countries, including Latin America and some Asian countries as a result of the growth ofsupermarkets, which procure directly from farmers or through preferred suppliers, rather than going through markets.
The constant and uninterrupted flow of product from distribution centers to store locations is a critical link in food industry operations. Distribution centers run more efficiently, throughput can be increased, costs can be lowered, and manpower better utilized if the proper steps are taken when setting up amaterial handling system in a warehouse.[28]
With worldwideurbanization,[29] food buying is increasingly removed from food production. During the 20th century, thesupermarket became the defining retail element of the food industry. There, tens of thousands of products are gathered in one location, in continuous, year-round supply.
Food preparation is another area where the change in recent decades has been dramatic. Today, two food industry sectors are in apparent competition for the retail food dollar. The grocery industry sells fresh and largely raw products for consumers to use as ingredients in home cooking. Thefood service industry, by contrast, offers prepared food, either as finished products or as partially prepared components for final "assembly". Restaurants, cafes, bakeries and mobilefood trucks provide opportunities for consumers to purchase food.
In the 21st centuryonline grocery stores emerged and digital technologies forcommunity-supported agriculture have enabled farmers to directly sell produce.[30] Some online grocery stores have voluntarily set social goals or values beyond meeting consumer demand and the accumulation ofprofit.[31]
Modern food production is defined by sophisticated technologies. These include many areas.Agricultural machinery, originally led by thetractor, has practically eliminated human labor in many areas of production.Biotechnology is driving much change, in areas as diverse asagrochemicals,plant breeding and food processing. Many other types of technology are also involved, to the point where it is hard to find an area that does not have a direct impact on the food industry. As in other fields, computer technology is also a central force. Other than that, there few more modern technologies that can help to improve the industry as well which are, robotics and automation, blockchain, nanotech, 3D printing, artificial intelligence, smart farming and others. These new technologies can improve the industry in the following ways:
Robotics andautomation: Robotics and automation are being used to automate processes such aspackaging,sorting, andquality control, which reduceslabor costs and increases efficiency. These technologies also reduce the likelihood of contamination by reducing human contact with food.[32]
Blockchain: Blockchain technology is being used to improvefood safety by providing transparency in thesupply chain. This technology allows forreal-time tracking of food products, from farm to table, which helps to identify any potential safety hazards and enables quick response to any issues.[33]
Nanotechnology: Nanotechnology is being used to develop new packaging materials that can extend the shelf life of food and reducefood waste. These materials can also be designed to bebiodegradable, reducing the environmental impact of packaging.[34]
3D printing: 3D printing is being used to create custom food products and to make food production more efficient.[35] With 3D printing, it is possible to create complex shapes and designs that would be difficult to achieve with traditional manufacturing techniques.
Artificial intelligence: (AI) is being used to analyze large amounts ofdata in the food industry, which can help to identify trends and patterns. This technology can be used to optimize processes and to improve the quality and safety of food products.[citation needed]
Smart farming: Smart farming involves the use ofsensors anddata analytics to optimize crop yields and reduce waste. This technology can help farmers to make more informed decisions about when to plant, water, and harvest crops, which can improve the efficiency and sustainability of agriculture.[36]
As consumers grow increasingly removed from food production, the role of product creation,advertising, and publicity become the primary vehicles for information about food. With processed food as the dominant category, marketers have almost infinite possibilities in product creation. Of the food advertised tochildren ontelevision, 73% isfast orconvenience foods.[37]
One of the main challenges in food industry marketing is the high level ofcompetition in the market. Companies must differentiate themselves from their competitors by offering unique products or using innovativemarketing techniques. For example, many food companies are now usingsocial media platforms to promote their products and engage with customers.
Another important aspect of food industry marketing is understandingconsumer behavior and preferences. This includes factors such as age, gender, income, and cultural background. Companies must also be aware of changing consumer trends and adapt their marketing strategies accordingly.
This section needs to beupdated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(June 2021)
Equipment atTartu Mill. Modern food processing factories are often highly automated.
Until the last 100 years, agriculture waslabor-intensive. Farming was a common occupation and millions of people were involved in food production. Farmers, largely trained from generation to generation, carried on the family business. That situation has changed dramatically today. In America in 1870, 70–80% of the US population was employed in agriculture.[38] As of 2021[update], less than 2% of the population is directly employed in agriculture,[39][40][41] and about 83% of the population lives in cities.[42]
^Parmeggiani, Lougi, ed. (1983). "???".Encyclopædia of Occupational Health and Safety (3rd ed.). Geneva: International Labour Office.ISBN92-2-103289-2.
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^Booth, Sue; Coveney, John (2015), Booth, Sue; Coveney, John (eds.), "'Big Food'—The Industrial Food System",Food Democracy: From consumer to food citizen, SpringerBriefs in Public Health, Singapore: Springer, pp. 3–11,doi:10.1007/978-981-287-423-8_2,ISBN978-981-287-423-8
^Escobar, Arturo (2012).Encountering Development: The Making and Unmaking of the Third World. Princeton, N.J. p. 3.ISBN978-1-4008-3992-6.OCLC757736395.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
^Clapp, Jennifer (2018).Speculative harvests: financialization, food, and agriculture. S. Ryan Isakson. Black Point, Nova Scotia.ISBN978-1-77363-023-6.OCLC1013824989.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
^Tian, Feng (2016). "An agri-food supply chain traceability system for China based on RFID & blockchain technology".2016 13th International Conference on Service Systems and Service Management (ICSSSM). pp. 1–6.doi:10.1109/ICSSSM.2016.7538424.ISBN978-1-5090-2842-9.
