Digital Twin Methodology in Food Processing: Basic Concepts and Applications

The goal of this article is to present a concise review about digital twin (DT) methodology and its application in food processing. We aim to identify the building blocks, current state and bottlenecks, and to discuss future developments of this approach.

DT methodology appears as a powerful approach for digital transformation of food production, via integration of modelling and simulation tools, sensors, actuators and communication platforms. This methodology allows developing virtual environments for real-time monitoring and controlling of processes, as well as providing actionable metrics for decision-making, which are not possible to obtain by physical sensors. So far, main applications were focused on refrigerated transport and storage of fresh produces, and thermal processes like cooking and drying.

DT methodology can provide useful solutions to food industry towards productivity and sustainability, but requires of multidisciplinary efforts. Wide and effective implementation of this approach will largely depend on developing high-fidelity digital models with real-time simulation capability.