A Review on Digitalisation in the Agri-food Industry: Prospects, Challenges and Implications

The agri-food industry is undergoing a dynamic process of innovation and digital transformation, which plays a major role in overcoming the issues of rising demand for food and resource use. Based on the systematic literature review, 83 articles were selected using the PRISMA framework to examine the applications of digital technologies, challenges and the implications of adopting digital technologies in the agri-food industry. Since the advent of Industry 4.0, there has been a growing trend towards digital solutions, and the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated their adoption. It has been highlighted how technology innovations like big data analytics, robotics, blockchain technology, precision farming, artificial intelligence and 6G were contemporary in agriculture and the food industry. The major challenges, such as lack of knowledge, proper infrastructure, investment and high operational costs existing at all levels, reduce the pace of digital transformation. It is imperative that, for the establishment of sufficient digital infrastructure and services, particularly in developing nations, funds and assistance from the government and private sectors, as well as the active participation of stakeholders in decision-making, are crucial.