Digital Passport for Fresh Food Traceability

The growing population, increasing food demand, limited cultivable land, and erratic climate place significant pressure on agricultural output. Ironically, one-third of food intended for human consumption is wasted worldwide. Policymakers are addressing both food production and waste reduction challenges. In this paper, we propose a unique concept: the TCS Digital Passport for fresh food traceability and authenticity. The Digital Passport is a unique code affixed to the packaging of fresh fruits or vegetables, carrying comprehensive information about the produce from origin to disposal recommendation. This information can be decoded by consumers or supermarkets to trace the food's source of production, plucking date, storage conditions, current nutritional value, environmental impact, ripening stage, and potential repurposing options if overripe. We have developed the TCS Food Application, which leverages our TCS Food Digital Twin technology. The Food Digital Twin solution involves synchronized monitoring of various physico-chemical attributes, such as time-series sensory data, chemical composition variations, and images. Physics-based models, trained on these attributes, predict real time food quality. Using the TCS Food App, consumers can scan the QR code on the fresh food packaging and real time image to obtain information about its history and status respectively. This system aims to create transparency and build consumer trust by verifying the authenticity of purchases. For supermarkets, the system aids in inventory control by capturing fresh food status, predicting shelf life, adjusting prices, clearing stock, and selling surplus to food processing companies at reduced rates. The concept is designed to minimize food waste, facilitate better decision-making for buyers and sellers, ensure consumption of climacteric fruit at its peak nutritional value, and foster a sustainable food ecosystem for the future.