Alternatives for the horticultural industry in 2030 - Postharvest 4.0 Questions

Business opportunities are continually popping up in the horticultural industry. Those opportunities are present at field and greenhouse level with the intensification of cultivation, in the robotization of production systems, in produce diversification in fruits and vegetables. In fresh food distribution and trade, the key is to be found in the postharvest and food industry. In the challenges of modern food. Into which innovation path will the postharvest professions head for? Do people really want to eat healthy, or is it just a trend? The new postharvest will be very technological, no doubt of it. But, will their areas of activity, from the supplier?s warehouse to the consumer?s table significantly increase? In the professions related to fruit and vegetable growing and trade, diversification is surely one of the keys to progress. Diversity of fruit types and varieties, disemination of postharvest knowledge, in the business models of producer organizations; diversity of store formats or food service chains and diversity in consumption trends for more vegetables and less meat. The horticultural industry is having a winning streak. Consumers want more veggie food. Postharvest, what for?Why is postharvest so extremely useful today? To reduce food waste, in the first place. To improve packaging and to increase produce value for the supply chain. Besides, through its processes, postharvest contributes effectively to food safety and traceability from grower?s field to point of sale. ?Fresh for longer? is a key concept in postharvest today. Nowadays, a modern postharvest system in place for the fruit and vegetables growers is extremely necessary for the efficient business development of the wholesale trade and supermarket chains. Postharvest is also effective in establishing chain traceability step by step between growers and retailers and also for a certified food safety along the trading process.COMPLETE ARTICLE