The Internet of Things has impacted virtually every business and manufacturing segment globally, and the food and beverage industry is no exception. In fact, one experiment with blockchain technology aims at improving access within our food supply, and the results just might be amazing.

A pilot project called Ripe aims to take farm fresh foods and make them available to restaurants, manufacturers and consumers in a more time sensitive way. The technology tracks, for example, a tomato’s ripeness, color and sugar content step by step, documenting the supply chain and ultimately reducing waste.

“Blockchain” technology is making an impact in everything from music to law. It was only a matter of time before it came to food. When it comes to the production process, controlling as many variables as one can is vital to turning a profit. Blockchain technology promises to do just that for the food and beverage industry. Produce updates are available through technology in a matter of seconds, rather than a full week using traditional methods. Most other variables can be controlled through quality equipment.

In the food and beverage industry, superior technology isn’t just about the Internet of Things or Blockchain. It is also about superior design. For example, a Komax sanitary static mixer can mix a wide variety of foods, from tomato paste and mayonnaise to yogurt and dairy products or soft drinks and juices. For starch cooking our sanitary steam heater has greatly improved the heating of liquids and cooking of heavy viscous slurries. The innovative designs of these products revolve around no moving parts – a major breakthrough in direct steam cooking.

While technology sensors may record everything from light, humidity and air temperature on the tomatoes grown in the field, innovative and simple designs inside the plant can greatly improve your own “yield!”