Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning solutions offer large possibilities to optimize and automate processes, save costs and make less human error possible for many industries. Food and Beverage is not an exception, where it can be beneficially applied in restaurants, bar and cafe businesses as well as in food manufacturing. These two segments have common use cases where AI in the food industry can be applied, as well as different ones, which is linked to different problems that must be solved. Knowing what goods to manufacture in large amounts or what dishes are the best choice to include in your restaurant menu is the key to increase earnings. Often customers' and market demands are changing very fast and so it is even more important to be one step ahead to take measures in time.

Across industries, the digital age has transformed the ability of companies to enhance efficiency, quality and overall operations. As technology that allows for further connectivity evolves, companies like Tetra Pak are preparing to create factories of the future. Tetra Pak, a multinational food packaging and processing company, announced at Hannover Messe 2019 that its future factory is ready to change the way food manufacturing plants operate. The company's efforts to digitalize the industry led it to partner with Microsoft, ABB, SAP and Elettric80 to create a connected packaging platform that incorporates people and artificial intelligence to transform the industry. "We are in a period where the market is changing at high speed," said Johan Nilsson, Tetra Pak vice president of Industry 4.0.

Robotic food manufacturing is a rising trend in the food industry. The value of the global food automation industry is expected to rise to $2.5 billion by 2022. In this article, we introduce six robotic applications in food processing. As we discussed in our previous article on the food industry, food manufacturing can be separated into two stages: primary food processing and secondary food processing. Primary processing involves handling raw food products, which are cleaned, sorted, chopped, packaged, etc.

Details of the fallout from the Brexit vote may take months to become clear, but there are concerns the UK pulling out of the European Union could lead to the loss of many low skilled migrant workers. But this apparent loss could be technology's gain, according to the findings from one think-tank. According to a new report from the Resolution Foundation, shortfalls in the human workforce could lead to a surge in robots to take their place. A new report from a think-tank says shortfalls in the workforce post-Brexit could lead to a surge in robots to take their place. According to findings from the Resolution Foundation, low-skilled jobs in agriculture and the food industry currently carried out by large numbers of EU workers could be automated.

Hundreds of industry specialists were recently introduced to APRIL (Automated Processing Robotic Ingredient Loading) at an event organised by automation solutions provider OAL and the University of Lincoln at the UK's National Centre for Food Manufacturing. The session was held to demonstrate to manufacturers what can be achieved using robots to handle ingredients and cook food, so that food manufacturing can become more efficient and safer. "Consumer demand for greater choice and convenience versus the rising cost of food production due to the introduction of the living wage has led food manufacturers to a crossroads," OAL sales and marketing manager Jake Norman told BakeryandSnacks. "These interlinking factors mean the time is now for robotics and automation to deliver flexible food production at the lowest cost." According to Norman, other industries have embraced technology as an alternative to people to great effect.