The increase in demand for fruit in Europe and Spain has highlighted a significant challenge: how to meet this growing demand without increasing food waste, particularly in perishable products like fruit.
In a context where Millions of tonnes of food are wasted every year in the European Unionfinding sustainable and efficient solutions is crucial for the future of the food sector.
Growing demand and food waste
According to recent data from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, consumption habits in European countries show that a third of adults exceed the recommended daily consumption of fruit.
Regarding Spain, according to data from Statista, between January and November 2023, sAround 3.415 million kilograms of fresh fruit were consumed in Spanish homes.
Despite the growing awareness of the importance of healthy eating behind these figures, it also represents a dlogistical challenge: More demand means more production and distribution, which increases the risk of waste if not managed correctly.
Vulnerable products
Foods like fruits or vegetablesdue to their perishable nature, they become one of the products the most vulnerable of the food supply chain.
Of the 58 million tonnes of food wasted each year in the European Union, a large part comes from fresh products which do not reach the final consumer in optimal conditions. In Spain more precisely, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Around 7.7 tonnes of food is wasted every year.
The cold chain, a solution to waste
A fundamental part of the solution to food waste lies in cold chain logistics. This system allows products to be kept at a controlled temperature from their collection until their arrival in supermarkets and homes, slowing their deterioration and preserving their quality.
However, fruit management within the cold chain is a complex process that requires not only specialized infrastructurebut also careful planning.
It’s a complicated task: packaging, bagging, temperature control, reconditioning, recasting, containers, specialized treatments, fumigation, transport, processing and even customs procedures. Additionally, each fruit has its own temperature and humidity requirements.
An error in temperature control, packaging or transportation may result in the total loss of a cargo, precision and the use of innovations are therefore essential to minimize waste.
Innovation, automation and collaboration
As demand for fruit increases, traditional storage and transportation solutions are no longer enough. Automation and technological innovation transforms the way the food industry handles perishable products.
An example of this is the implementation of automated warehouses, such as that of Milagro (Navarra), which alhalfway through your automated installations70% of stored products being vegetables and 8% fruits.
Automated warehouses optimize space and speed up the distribution of goods. products stored via mobile shelves and specialized trucks.
Reaction speed
Despite this, technology and infrastructure alone are not enough. For the cold chain to function effectively, it is it is essential to have a network of farmersdistributors and retailers who guarantee correct handling of the products in every step of this entire process. It is about having local experts with global reach dedicated to fruit excellence.
Without going any further, at Lineage this approach has allowed us to anticipate market demands and react quickly to setbacks.
One of the ways we’ve done this is by prioritizing customer-centric locations. ports and specialized facilitiesas well as cutting-edge transportation solutions.
An automated and sustainable future
In addition to optimizing cold chain efficiency, it is important to promote practices that reduce environmental impact. THE investment in clean technologies and reducing emissions are crucial steps on this path.
Lineage is part of The Climate Pledge and is committed to having net zero carbon emissions in all our business operations by 2040.
In 2023, Spain was set to become one of the European countries to have its own national law on food waste.
Sustainability and innovation
According to a study carried out by Too Good To Go, a social impact company that fights against food waste, almost 3 out of 4 Spanish citizens, considers it necessary to legislate on this problem because it generates an environmental, economic and social impact.
The future of the fruit supply chain in Europe is undergoing a transformation in which the Sustainability and innovation must go hand in hand.
These transformations will not only allow reduce food wastebut will also allow consumers to benefit from fresh, quality products all year round.
