The reason for this research stems from the urgent need to transform the agri-food industry into a sustainable system that can minimize food waste and meet increasingly stringent safety and quality requirements. The underlying hypothesis of this study is that integrating digital technologies and artificial intelligence can provide predictive and effective quality control in the circular economy. The research aims to analyze the impact of these technologies on food safety and waste reduction, and its objectives include identifying usable digital tools and evaluating their effectiveness in circular processes. The methodology employed consists of a conceptual and applied analysis of the role of technologies, including IoT, blockchain, computer vision, AI, and Big Data, in ensuring the quality of agri-food products. The results highlight a significant increase in traceability, operational efficiency and food risk prevention. The conclusion emphasizes the innovative nature of the use of digital technologies as transformation drivers in the agri-food industry. Their integration not only supports sustainability but also redefines quality assurance paradigms, setting the stage for self-optimizing food systems. The implications are far-reaching, with direct applications in the design of safe, transparent and zero-waste-orientated value chains. This article was carried out in the framework of the research subprogram 02.04.08 "Research on ensuring sustainable development and increasing the competitiveness of the Republic of Moldova in the European context".
Iuliu Țurcan (Mon,) studied this question.