Published Paper Details:

The major application of Industrial IoT is in the food industry, agriculture and food safety. So, in the food industry let us first try to understand what actually happens. So, we have agricultural produce, those agricultural produce; they come from the field then those produces are basically taken through different processes and finally, the consumers basically consume the agricultural produce. So, let me elaborate this little bit further so, the process is well known as field to plate .So, in the agricultural field you would be growing the crops. So, let us say that sowing of seeds, the farmers are going to sow seeds, grow crops, apply fertilizers, apply pesticides, etc. and then after the agricultural plans they become matured, then basically these crops are harvested right. So, the next step is broadly is going to be harvesting. Following harvesting these food grains are going to be processed; food grain processing, after food grain processing we are going to have let us say the packaging, packaging of the food grains. After packaging of the food grains these packages are going to be transported; transportation and logistics. So, they are going to be transported typically to a wholesale market. Then it goes to the retailer, the retail market and finally, the consumers are going to buy and cook the agricultural produce and they are going to consume. So, basically this is going to be the plate right. This is typically the chain from the agricultural field to the plate. So, this is typically the chain of activities that are followed; this is the supply chain let us say. So, supply chain comes because ultimately for each of these things the supply will have to be ensured through this entire cycle right. So, all these supply through these entire processes and the different steps will have to be ensured. So, in this kind of scenario sensors will have to be used; you have sensors, IIoT devices will have to be used in the agricultural field for monitoring the growth of the crops, the sowing of the seeds, for applying fertilizers precisely adequately and so on and also to precisely and adequately apply the pesticides. So, sensors, actuators, plus different agricultural robots could be used over here. So, not only over here even for harvesting also these could be used for food grain processing, again these could be used, for packaging likewise transportation, logistics, wholesaler, retailer, plate actually let us leave this aside. So, we still are not in a point of having a plate which is sensor enabled and robotic plate and so on. So, that is a far dream to be achieved so, but in retailer basically sensors, actuators, robots etc. these are all going to help the systems, or the machines that are helping in the processes and the different states etc. to be made much more efficient autonomous and so on. So, let us now look further ahead and see what we have in terms of IoT implementation in the food industry.