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T he food and beverage industry is not only the European Union ’ s largest manufacturing sector , but it is also intertwined in the economic , political , and social fabric of the continent . Revered across the globe , EU food and drink exports have almost doubled in the last decade , reaching over € 90bn ( US $ 102.6bn ), according to the European Commission .
Yet , whilst business may be booming , Europe isn ’ t immune to the challenges facing the global market . The United Nations predicts that we will have over 2mn more mouths to feed by 2050 , and as the environmental toll of food production enters the spotlight , consumers are increasingly demanding more sustainable produce . Many firms have hedged their bets on technology to tackle these challenges and now , success — and even survival — in the food and beverage industry could be dependent on emerging innovations like artificial intelligence ( AI ), Internet of Things ( IoT ), robotics , and more . One such company making waves in the sector is technology behemoth ABB . This year the firm was once again named among the Top 10 in Forbes magazine ’ s ‘ Change the World ’ list , a ranking that highlights firms that “ help the planet and tackle social problems ”. Whilst the company may be better known for its technological innovations , ABB has recently redefined its vision , aiming not to sell products , but to sell custom-tailored solutions .
With around 16 years of food and beverage experience under her belt , Darcy Simonis , Industry Network
JANUARY 2019