The past two years have brought rapid acceleration and developments in technology and digitisation across all sectors.

Although it might feel like we’re already living at a peak digital level, countless technological advancements are happening right now that have the potential to drastically impact our industry – or are doing so already.

Below is a small sample of the ways technology is changing the food and drink sector.

1. Printing food for health and allergies

3D printing has been around for years, but we’re only just exploring the breadth of applications in the food sector.

It’s not just about printing intricately designed foods that look fantastic on the plate or reducing your carbon footprint with meat-free steaks or printed out-of-season produce; there is scope to help people eat a more varied diet or reduce food waste.

For example, Sushi Singularity, a restaurant set to open in Tokyo, plans to use 3D printing to create a meal that addresses diners’ specific nutritional needs based on biometric data supplied at the time of booking. Netherlands-based Upprinting takes food that would otherwise be wasted and turns them into biscuits.

An added bonus of 3D printed food is opening the door for allergy sufferers to try new dishes: as the food can be made with different ingredients but still replicate the taste, perhaps we’ll see nut-free peanut butter chocolate, or shellfish-free scallops on menus.

2. Smelling the metaverse

Enjoying food isn’t just about its taste or how it looks on the plate; smell is an incredibly important part of eating. But with our increased reliance on digital worlds (and people suffering from long Covid reporting a loss of this sense), smell has fallen to the background of our experiences.

OW Smell Digital is trying to change that by digitising scent for use in the metaverse. The tech company uses AI to determine the desired scent output which can then be released alongside a video, for example.

The potential for this food sector technology is endless, from helping people with little or no sense of smell get more enjoyment out of their food, to adding scent to online ordering to further entice customers – not mention the multitude of ways scent can be used in other sectors.

3. Crypto food halls

Food halls have always been a popular way for diners to try new dishes, but US-based Cordia Corporation is moving them into the metaverse.

The company has created a crypto food hall focussed on helping independent restaurateurs succeed in a notoriously difficult sector and give them an easy and affordable way to access the growing cryptocurrency community.

Cordia Corporation is also bringing NFTs into the food space, offering chef and menu-based NFTs.

In the long-term, this is another potential application for digitised scents: with space for 1,000 chefs in the crypto food hall, scent can help them stand out in the crowd.

4. Tracking food and reducing waste

The financial and environmental impact of discarded food in a commercial kitchen can be huge, especially as chefs don’t often have the time to track it.

Automation and other technology can help here, calculating what food is actually being used and helping chefs adjust their purchasing habits accordingly.

Winnow Vision is one company exploring how AI can solve this challenge and has seen great success so far: initial trials in Macau saw a 67% reduction in food waste over six months.

With diners increasingly interested in choosing sustainable options, this is a great opportunity for restaurants to reduce waste. This also reduces expenses for restaurants as they may find they can spend less on food.

5. Robotic agriculture

Technology and farming have gone hand in hand for a while now, with sensors, imaging, and GPS technology helping farmers better track and manage their crops or animals – but we’re only at the beginning of the techno-agricultural revolution.

For example, the UK-based Manufacturing Technology Centre has combined automation, AI, and advanced vision systems to develop an autonomous robot that can inspect crops for ripeness and quality while also identifying diseases and pests.

Other companies have also developed robotic agricultural aids such as Ecorobotix’s autonomous drone that reduces herbicide use by 90% (and cutting costs by 30%) and the Energid Citrus Picking System which can pick a fruit every 2-3 seconds.

These technologies offer benefits ranging from cutting the amount of chemicals and pesticides used to increasing crop yield while improving quality. Consumers will possibly see additional long-term benefits as the help with labour allows farmers to lower costs.

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Technology is driving rapid change in the food sector, both for suppliers and consumers; it’s nearly impossible to determine what the sector will look like a few years down the line.

Innovations we are seeing are fantastic, and a great reminder of the wide range of applications for technology in any sector – not just the one for which it was originally developed.

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