Digital Technologies for Food Loss and Waste Prevention and Reduction in Agri-Food Supply Chains: A Systematic Literature Review and Research Agenda

Despite the benefits resulting from the use of Industry 4.0 technologies in the agri-food sector, the adoption of digital technologies for preventing and/or reducing food loss and waste (FLW) across the agri-food supply chain is still under investigation. In fact, enhancing and optimizing agri-food supply chain operations through digital technologies would just represent a partial effort if FLW prevention and reduction are not effectively addressed. Although companies are starting to adopt digital technologies for eliminating FLW from their operations, the implementation process and the achieved results are generally presented at a superficial level and practical guidance is still missing. This systematic literature review contributes to theory by developing a framework analyzing the state-of-the-art of adoption of each Industry 4.0 technology across the agri-food supply chain, and providing a research agenda structured around the main themes of research design, digital technologies, contextual differences, governance, and sustainability. Eventually, the study also informs managers in the agri-food industry about the potential implementation of digital technologies for preventing and reducing FLW in across the agri-food supply chain.