There are many challenges facing the supply chain logistics for perishable products. Last November, it was announced the global population had increased to over seven billion. Fifty percent of this population increased during the last 40 years. By 2100, three billion more people are expected to inhabit the world, which will bring the population to ten billion. There are many people who cannot access perishables and fresh produce. Taking into account the current, as well as future, economic change where global wealth will increase following the emergence of mature economies, the world will need to produce seventy percent more food compared to the current production.
Technology and equipment could benefit the perishable goods market. For instance, the transportation companies could take major steps to meet the global growing needs. Steamship lines could resize their fleets. This may include the introduction of larger vessels to deliver on the environmental and commercial expectations of customers. On-time delivery is another vital factor for companies that ship temperature-controlled cargoes such as fresh vegetables and fruits, sensitive flower bulbs, and chilled fish and meat. Reliable logistics and transport is what differentiates success and failure of the perishable global market.
Truck technology is another innovation that could enhance the refrigeration system. The goal of the technology is to utilize the kinetic energy originating from the trailer’s wheels in converting that energy into the power that would be used to charge batteries for operating the refrigeration system. Using the same technology, power can be stored for one to three days while the trailer is still stationary. The overall goal of this technology is lowering the operation cost by minimizing fuel use and lowering the overall system weight.
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