Smart agriculture packaging: Finding new ways to store food

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  Quantumrun Foresight
• November 29, 2021

Smart agricultural packaging is improving supply chain efficiency and providing valuable consumer insights. This technology is reshaping the agricultural sector and contributing to sustainability goals. From creating new jobs in technology and data analysis to advancing agricuture technology (AgTech), the ripple effects of this innovation can reduce landfills and enhance food security.

Smart agriculture packaging context

According to the United Nations (UN), every year, one-third of the world’s food produced for human consumption is wasted due to spoilage, leading to a total loss of over one billion tons of food. Current packaging systems aren’t sufficiently prolonging a food product’s shelf life, causing wastage when there are delays in domestic and international supply chains. Such spoilage hits developing countries much harder than other regions, especially those that are heavily dependent on food imports. 

Fortunately, many businesses and research labs around the world are targeting active and intelligent packaging as a solution to this spoilage problem. For example, with funding from the US Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Michigan State researchers plan to develop flexible tags with nanomaterial sensors to determine a product’s temperature and detect signs of spoilage. Flexible tags will also wirelessly transmit this information to shippers and distributors, alerting them of potential damage before it occurs. 

In addition, StePac’s Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) has already hit the shelves. MAP prolongs shelf-life by keeping the fresh foods in a different environment, preventing negative impact from external temperatures and humidity. They also avoid cross-contamination by hermetically sealing the packaging, which limits human contact. 

Disruptive impact 

Smart agriculture packaging can lead to a significant reduction in household food waste. It can alert consumers when their food is nearing its expiration date, encouraging timely consumption, saving money, and promoting sustainable lifestyles Ethical consumers who prefer zero-waste lifestyles can also benefit from biodegradable and recyclable packaging.

For companies, smart agriculture packaging can provide a competitive edge in the market. Furthermore, the data collected from smart packaging can provide valuable insights into consumer behavior, which can be used to optimize supply chains and improve product offerings. With smart packaging, businesses can track and monitor the condition of their products in real-time during transit. This feature can help identify issues promptly, reducing losses and improving supply chain efficiency. For instance, if a batch of produce is detected to be spoiling faster than usual, businesses can reroute it to a closer destination to prevent total loss.

On a governmental level, the adoption of smart agriculture packaging can have profound implications for food security and environmental policy. By reducing food waste, governments can ensure more efficient use of resources, which can contribute to achieving sustainability goals. Additionally, the reduction in food waste can alleviate pressure on landfills, leading to a decrease in greenhouse gas emissions.

Implications of agricultural packaging 

Wider implications of smart agricultural packaging development may include: 

• Long-term deflationary pressures on food prices since more food will reach grocery shelves and sit in the pantries of consumers (for longer) without spoiling. 


• Alleviating concerns about food shortages in developing countries, prompting more local businesses to import fresh produce from international vendors. 


• Creating new jobs for STEM graduates in agricultural and logistics companies for the research and development of smart packaging. 


• Increasing consumer knowledge and confidence in the safety of fresh produce, leading to an increase in sales and a reduced reliance on preserved food alternatives. 


• An increased need for regulations and standards to ensure data privacy and security, leading to new political debates and legislation.


• The increased efficiency and profitability of farming making it a more attractive career option for younger generations, potentially slowing or reversing rural-to-urban migration trends.


• The integration of advanced technologies like IoT and AI in agricultural packaging acclerating the digital transformation of the agriculture sector, leading to the development of new technological infrastructures and ecosystems.

Questions to consider

• What other smart agricultural packaging solutions have you heard of and how do they work?


• Do you think smart agricultural packaging will be too expensive to adopt, especially for consumers in developing countries?