By Eric Kithinji
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August 3, 2023
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY An estimated 30-40% of fresh produce is lost post-harvest, most expiring before it can be sold or consumed. Environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity from the time of harvest to cooling and shipping, during transport, storage and throughout the supply chain, contribute to accelerated perishable product degradation. Yet legacy inventory management systems which employ a First-In, First-Out (FIFO) methodology, rely on a projected expiration date stamped during harvest or packing, or at best employ superficial temperature tracking in the truck that brings the product to them, fail to account for actual products’ experience and condition, resulting in lost sales opportunities and increased food waste. The digital transformation of the perishable supply chain now allows a combination of off-the- shelf sensors, artificial intelligence (AI) generated algorithms and machine learning (ML) to accurately predict remaining shelf-life based upon the conditions the product has experienced from field to final distribution point. These algorithms have been developed by Inteligistics ROI and allow for a new, First Expire, First Out (FEFO) model that optimizes perishable inventory to maximize revenue, while reducing waste, discounting and poor consumer experiences for retail grocery and related industries. Read More