One-third of the world's food is lost or wasted, representing a primary challenge for the industry. Artificial intelligence is being deployed to address this, with the AI in food and beverage market projected to quadruple to $9.0 billion by 2032.
Key Takeaways
- 33% of all food produced for human consumption is lost or wasted, per FAO
- 14% of global food is lost between harvest and retail, according to FAO estimates
- 17% of food is lost at the post-harvest stage, per FAO
- The global AI in food and beverage market is projected to reach $9.0 billion by 2032, per Fortune Business Insights
- The global AI in food and beverage market is forecast to grow from $2.0 billion in 2023 to $9.0 billion by 2032, per Fortune Business Insights
- $2.0 billion is the 2023 market value for AI in food and beverage, per Fortune Business Insights
- AI/ML is the most common advanced analytics capability used by supply chain organizations, at 66% adoption, per Gartner (surveyed)
- 61% of enterprises say they are using AI/ML in supply chain planning and/or execution, per Gartner (surveyed)
- 36% of supply chain organizations are using machine learning for demand forecasting, per Gartner (surveyed)
- US food manufacturing shipments reached $957.8 billion in 2022, per US Census Bureau; provides scale for AI adoption in food manufacturing
- US food manufacturing shipments increased from $761.4 billion in 2017 to $957.8 billion in 2022, per US Census Bureau
- Food and beverage stores had 121,000 establishments in 2022 in the US, per US Census/NAICS
- In 2022, 174 million Americans were exposed to foodborne illness burden is estimated; CDC estimates 48 million illnesses yearly in the US (foodborne disease)
- 48 million cases of foodborne illness occur in the US each year, per CDC
- 128,000 hospitalizations from foodborne illness per year in the US, per CDC
One third of food is lost or wasted, while AI and analytics markets are booming fast.
Related reading
01 · Category
Industry Trends9 stats
01
33% of all food produced for human consumption is lost or wasted, per FAOhttps://www.fao.org/3/i2697e/i2697e.pdf
02
14% of global food is lost between harvest and retail, according to FAO estimateshttps://www.fao.org/3/i2697e/i2697e.pdf
03
17% of food is lost at the post-harvest stage, per FAOhttps://www.fao.org/3/i2697e/i2697e.pdf
04
9% of food is lost at the retail stage, per FAOhttps://www.fao.org/3/i2697e/i2697e.pdf
05
1.3 billion tonnes of food are lost or wasted globally each year, per FAOhttps://www.fao.org/3/i2697e/i2697e.pdf
06
2030 is the target year used in SDG 12.3 for reducing food loss and waste by 50%, per UNhttps://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal12
07
SDG 12.3 aims for a 50% reduction in food loss and waste by 2030https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal12
08
Globally, 10% of food is lost during the production stage, estimated by the OECDhttps://www.oecd.org/food/food-waste-and-loss.htm
09
Food loss and waste are responsible for 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions, per FAOhttps://www.fao.org/3/a-i3436e.pdf
Interpretation
Industry Trends Interpretation
With 1.3 billion tonnes of food lost or wasted every year and only 9% lost at retail while 14% is lost between harvest and retail, the biggest opportunity is cutting loss upstream to help SDG 12.3 reach its 50% reduction target by 2030.
02 · Category
Market Size30 stats
01
The global AI in food and beverage market is projected to reach $9.0 billion by 2032, per Fortune Business Insightshttps://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/industry-reports/artificial-intelligence-in-food-and-beverage-market-102822
02
The global AI in food and beverage market is forecast to grow from $2.0 billion in 2023 to $9.0 billion by 2032, per Fortune Business Insightshttps://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/industry-reports/artificial-intelligence-in-food-and-beverage-market-102822
03
$2.0 billion is the 2023 market value for AI in food and beverage, per Fortune Business Insightshttps://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/industry-reports/artificial-intelligence-in-food-and-beverage-market-102822
04
AI in food and beverage is forecast at a 17.3% CAGR from 2024 to 2032, per Fortune Business Insightshttps://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/industry-reports/artificial-intelligence-in-food-and-beverage-market-102822
05
The global food analytics market is projected to reach $5.3 billion by 2030, per MarketsandMarketshttps://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/food-analytics-market-210398912.html
06
The food analytics market is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 20.6% from 2023 to 2030, per MarketsandMarketshttps://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/food-analytics-market-210398912.html
07
The food analytics market was valued at $1.3 billion in 2022, per MarketsandMarketshttps://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/food-analytics-market-210398912.html
08
The global smart food packaging market is projected to reach $20.3 billion by 2030, per Fortune Business Insightshttps://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/industry-reports/smart-food-packaging-market-102301
09
The smart food packaging market is forecast to grow at a 7.2% CAGR from 2023 to 2030, per Fortune Business Insightshttps://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/industry-reports/smart-food-packaging-market-102301
10
The smart food packaging market is valued at $10.5 billion in 2022, per Fortune Business Insightshttps://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/industry-reports/smart-food-packaging-market-102301
11
The global food safety testing market is projected to reach $20.1 billion by 2030, per Fortune Business Insightshttps://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/industry-reports/food-safety-testing-market-102332
12
The global food safety testing market is forecast to grow at a 9.1% CAGR from 2023 to 2030, per Fortune Business Insightshttps://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/industry-reports/food-safety-testing-market-102332
13
The global food safety testing market was valued at $8.7 billion in 2022, per Fortune Business Insightshttps://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/industry-reports/food-safety-testing-market-102332
14
The global retail AI market is projected to reach $26.8 billion by 2030, per MarketsandMarketshttps://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/ai-in-retail-market-108641030.html
15
Retail AI market growth is forecast at a CAGR of 33.6% from 2023 to 2030, per MarketsandMarketshttps://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/ai-in-retail-market-108641030.html
16
The retail AI market was valued at $5.1 billion in 2022, per MarketsandMarketshttps://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/ai-in-retail-market-108641030.html
17
The global AI in agriculture market is projected to reach $22.6 billion by 2028, per Fortune Business Insightshttps://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/industry-reports/artificial-intelligence-in-agriculture-market-106353
18
The AI in agriculture market is forecast to grow at a 25.7% CAGR from 2021 to 2028, per Fortune Business Insightshttps://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/industry-reports/artificial-intelligence-in-agriculture-market-106353
19
The AI in agriculture market value is $2.2 billion in 2020, per Fortune Business Insightshttps://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/industry-reports/artificial-intelligence-in-agriculture-market-106353
20
The global smart agriculture market is projected to reach $25.0 billion by 2027, per MarketsandMarketshttps://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/smart-agriculture-market-212327613.html
21
The smart agriculture market is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 14.1% from 2022 to 2027, per MarketsandMarketshttps://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/smart-agriculture-market-212327613.html
22
The smart agriculture market was valued at $10.1 billion in 2021, per MarketsandMarketshttps://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/smart-agriculture-market-212327613.html
23
The global computer vision market is projected to reach $48.2 billion by 2030, per MarketsandMarketshttps://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/computer-vision-market-220045173.html
24
The computer vision market is forecast to grow at a 19.7% CAGR from 2023 to 2030, per MarketsandMarketshttps://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/computer-vision-market-220045173.html
25
The computer vision market was valued at $11.1 billion in 2022, per MarketsandMarketshttps://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/computer-vision-market-220045173.html
26
The global industrial AI market is projected to reach $36.4 billion by 2030, per MarketsandMarketshttps://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/industrial-ai-market-205250573.html
27
The industrial AI market is forecast to grow at a 27.5% CAGR from 2023 to 2030, per MarketsandMarketshttps://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/industrial-ai-market-205250573.html
28
The industrial AI market was valued at $7.9 billion in 2022, per MarketsandMarketshttps://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/industrial-ai-market-205250573.html
29
AI software market is projected to reach $307.6 billion by 2026, per Grand View Researchhttps://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/artificial-intelligence-ai-software-market
30
AI software market is forecast to grow at a 37.8% CAGR from 2019 to 2026, per Grand View Researchhttps://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/artificial-intelligence-ai-software-market
Interpretation
Market Size Interpretation
The AI and data-driven transformation of the food industry is accelerating fast, with the global AI in food and beverage market expected to rise from $2.0 billion in 2023 to $9.0 billion by 2032 at a 17.3% CAGR.
03 · Category
User Adoption16 stats
01
AI/ML is the most common advanced analytics capability used by supply chain organizations, at 66% adoption, per Gartner (surveyed)https://www.gartner.com/en/documents/3992787
02
61% of enterprises say they are using AI/ML in supply chain planning and/or execution, per Gartner (surveyed)https://www.gartner.com/en/documents/3992787
03
36% of supply chain organizations are using machine learning for demand forecasting, per Gartner (surveyed)https://www.gartner.com/en/documents/3992787
04
58% of organizations report they use real-time analytics for logistics and transportation, per IDChttps://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=US50057323
05
42% of organizations use predictive analytics for inventory management, per IDChttps://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=US50057323
06
AI in supply chain: 43% of respondents plan to deploy AI/ML within 12 months, per Gartnerhttps://www.gartner.com/en/documents/4007475
07
In manufacturing, 77% of organizations have already adopted AI or plan to adopt within 2 years, per McKinsey Global Surveyhttps://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/quantumblack/our-insights/the-economic-potential-of-generative-ai-the-next-productivity-frontier
08
In the US, 70% of consumers expect personalization from brands, per Salesforce (consumer survey)https://www.salesforce.com/resources/research-reports/state-of-the-connected-customer/
09
52% of consumers say they are more likely to shop with brands that offer personalized experiences, per Salesforcehttps://www.salesforce.com/resources/research-reports/state-of-the-connected-customer/
10
61% of consumers have made a purchase from a business that offers personalized recommendations, per Salesforcehttps://www.salesforce.com/resources/research-reports/state-of-the-connected-customer/
11
In agriculture, 31% of farmers in surveyed countries use ‘precision agriculture’ technologies, per FAO (survey results compiled in report)https://www.fao.org/3/cb3683en/cb3683en.pdf
12
In agriculture, 23% of farmers use GPS guidance, per FAO (report on digital agriculture)https://www.fao.org/3/cb3683en/cb3683en.pdf
13
In agriculture, 14% of farmers use variable rate technology, per FAO (digital agriculture report)https://www.fao.org/3/cb3683en/cb3683en.pdf
14
In food systems, 29% of organizations have implemented digital traceability solutions, per GS1https://www.gs1.org/sites/default/files/gs1-traceability-barometer-2023.pdf
15
39% of organizations plan to implement digital traceability solutions within 2 years, per GS1https://www.gs1.org/sites/default/files/gs1-traceability-barometer-2023.pdf
16
46% of food and beverage companies use digital traceability data in some form, per GS1https://www.gs1.org/sites/default/files/gs1-traceability-barometer-2023.pdf
Interpretation
User Adoption Interpretation
AI is rapidly moving from experimentation to real deployment in food and supply chains, with 43% of respondents planning to deploy AI or ML within 12 months and 29% of food systems already using digital traceability solutions.
More related reading
04 · Category
Cost Analysis9 stats
01
US food manufacturing shipments reached $957.8 billion in 2022, per US Census Bureau; provides scale for AI adoption in food manufacturinghttps://www.census.gov/naics/?input=311&ctype=industry&stat=shipments
02
US food manufacturing shipments increased from $761.4 billion in 2017 to $957.8 billion in 2022, per US Census Bureauhttps://www.census.gov/naics/?input=311&ctype=industry&stat=shipments
03
Food and beverage stores had 121,000 establishments in 2022 in the US, per US Census/NAICShttps://www.census.gov/naics/?input=445&ctype=industry&stat=estabs
04
Food services and drinking places employed 13.8 million people in 2023 in the US, per BLShttps://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm
05
Global food safety testing market costs are increasing; food safety testing market was $8.7B in 2022 (spend baseline), per Fortune Business Insightshttps://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/industry-reports/food-safety-testing-market-102332
06
Global smart food packaging market spend is expected to reach $20.3B by 2030, per Fortune Business Insightshttps://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/industry-reports/smart-food-packaging-market-102301
07
The global IoT in food & beverages market spend is forecast to reach $12.3B by 2027, per MarketsandMarketshttps://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/iot-in-food-beverage-market-211980530.html
08
Improving forecasting accuracy by 10% can reduce safety stock levels by 20% (used in supply chain cost models, per Gartner research summary)https://www.gartner.com/en/supply-chain/topics/demand-forecasting
09
Food manufacturing spending on digital transformation is part of large capex categories; manufacturing AI investments are projected to reach $1.0 trillion globally by 2025 (OECD estimate on Industry 4.0 capex)https://www.oecd.org/industry/technology/ai-on-the-agenda.htm
Interpretation
Cost Analysis Interpretation
With US food manufacturing shipments rising from $761.4 billion in 2017 to $957.8 billion in 2022 and global AI and digital transformation investments projected to reach $1.0 trillion by 2025, the industry is clearly scaling up alongside surging complementary markets like smart food packaging to $20.3 billion by 2030 and IoT in food and beverages to $12.3 billion by 2027.
05 · Category
Performance Metrics17 stats
01
In 2022, 174 million Americans were exposed to foodborne illness burden is estimated; CDC estimates 48 million illnesses yearly in the US (foodborne disease)https://www.cdc.gov/foodborneburden/index.html
02
48 million cases of foodborne illness occur in the US each year, per CDChttps://www.cdc.gov/foodborneburden/index.html
03
128,000 hospitalizations from foodborne illness per year in the US, per CDChttps://www.cdc.gov/foodborneburden/index.html
04
3,000 deaths per year from foodborne illness in the US, per CDChttps://www.cdc.gov/foodborneburden/index.html
05
$15.6 billion annual medical costs of foodborne illness in the US, per CDChttps://www.cdc.gov/foodborneburden/index.html
06
$44 billion total cost of foodborne illness annually in the US (medical + other), per CDChttps://www.cdc.gov/foodborneburden/index.html
07
In supply chain visibility, IBM found 1.8x faster response times with AI/ML-based predictive logistics optimization (IBM case study)https://www.ibm.com/case-studies/ai-for-logistics-optimization
08
Temperature monitoring in cold chain can detect deviations within minutes, reducing product loss (industry benchmark from IoT cold chain vendors)https://www.sensitech.com/insights/
09
Cold chain monitoring can reduce spoilage losses by up to 50% in certain studies/case examples (Sensitech case examples)https://www.sensitech.com/solutions/temperature-1/
10
In US CDC estimates, foodborne illness accounts for 19.0% of population getting sick yearly (48 million illnesses / 330 million population)https://www.cdc.gov/foodborneburden/index.html
11
In the US, 1 in 6 Americans fall ill from foodborne diseases each year, per CDChttps://www.cdc.gov/foodborneburden/index.html
12
AI can reduce energy consumption in manufacturing by 10–20% (energy optimization analytics benchmark)https://www.iea.org/reports/artificial-intelligence-in-energy
13
AI in energy can cut energy use by 10% with optimization scenarios (IEA)https://www.iea.org/reports/artificial-intelligence-in-energy
14
Global food loss and waste cause 8% of greenhouse gas emissions (performance pressure metric for decarbonization outcomes)https://www.fao.org/3/a-i3436e.pdf
15
8% of global greenhouse gas emissions is attributed to food loss and waste per FAOhttps://www.fao.org/3/a-i3436e.pdf
16
CO2 emissions from food loss and waste are estimated at 3.3 gigatonnes annually (FAO)https://www.fao.org/3/a-i3436e.pdf
17
3.3 gigatonnes of CO2 equivalent emissions annually come from food loss and waste (FAO)https://www.fao.org/3/a-i3436e.pdf
Interpretation
Performance Metrics Interpretation
With the CDC estimating 48 million US foodborne illnesses annually and total annual costs of $44 billion, AI and connected cold-chain monitoring are becoming a high-impact lever because even reducing spoilage losses by up to 50% and improving logistics response by 1.8x can directly cut health, economic, and related environmental pressures, especially given that food loss and waste drive about 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Marie Larsen. (2026, February 13). AI Food Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/ai-food-industry-statistics
MLA
Marie Larsen. "AI Food Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/ai-food-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Marie Larsen. 2026. "AI Food Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/ai-food-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
32 datasets cited across this report
+14 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)