In 2028, the artificial intelligence market in the food industry will reach a value of $43.4 billion, a fivefold increase from $8.2 billion in 2023 with a compound annual growth rate of 39.5%. North America was worth $3.5 billion in 2023, representing 42.7% of the global market, and is estimated to rise to 43.4% in 2028. Europe ranked second with a 27% share and a return of 2.2 billion thanks mainly to the performance of Germany and France followed by Italy, Spain, the Netherlands and Switzerland. Asia Pacific, while being the third largest market in 2023, will be the region with the most significant growth in the use of AI in the food supply chain in the coming years. (*)

Among the sectors set to benefit most from innovation is quality control, which will reach a market value of USD 6.2 billion by 2028 with an average CAGR of 40.6%. This development is linked on the one hand to increasingly stringent regulations on food safety and transparency standards and on the other hand to growing consumer demands regarding the origin of products and the sustainability of production processes.

In this context, advanced technological solutions such as real-time supply chain monitoring algorithms, predictive artificial intelligence applications for preventive maintenance and the integration of intelligent traceability systems emerge.
Artificial intelligence also helps to optimise menus by balancing the cost of raw materials with the selling price, to stay in touch with customers to follow their tastes and to manage supplies more efficiently.

Among the most relevant initiatives in the fight against the phenomenon of Italian Sounding, artificial intelligence is used with scraping techniques to monitor the web and identify imitations, counterfeits, evocations and abuses related to products, as is the case with the initiatives to combat fakes implemented by the Mozzarella di Bufala Campana DOP Consortium.

From 2019, in support of the protection of the authenticity of Italian cuisine, ITA0039 | 100% Italian Taste Certification by Asacert is a project that, through certification and the app of the same name, guarantees an authentic Made in Italy experience, helping consumers around the world to recognise and purchase truly Italian products, available on shelves globally.

*Team Innovation of PwC Italy