Innovative food supply chain through spatial computing technologies: A review
Peihua Ma, Xiaoxue Jia, Mairui Gao, Z. Yi, Shawn Tsai, Yiyang He, Dongyang Zhen, Ryan A. Blaustein, Qin Wang, Cheng–I Wei, Bei Fan, Fengzhong Wang
Abstract
The global food supply chain faces significant challenges related to inefficiencies, quality variability, and traceability issues, all of which contribute to food waste and consumer distrust. Spatial computing (SC) technologies, including augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and digital twins, offer promising solutions by enhancing precision agriculture, logistics, manufacturing, and retail operations. This review explores SC's potential across the entire food supply continuum, emphasizing improvements in resource management, supply chain transparency, and consumer engagement. Despite its promise, the widespread adoption of SC is limited by technical challenges and a lack of standardized protocols. The findings suggest that while SC has the potential to revolutionize the food supply chain by improving sustainability, efficiency, and safety, further interdisciplinary research and collaboration are essential to fully unlock its capabilities.