Globally, approximately one-third of the total food produced is wasted. The environmental effect of such wastage is the contribution to greenhouse gas emissions, and economically, money that could have been reinvested in the economy is lost. This research showcases the ability of IoT devices to gather data on wastage and management as they happen, as well as big data analytics in facilitating data acquisition for enhanced decision-making. The research proposal seeks to show how the use of these technologies can support waste minimization, efficiently utilize resources, and promote sustainability in the agro-food chain. Thus, a literature survey will be applied to outline the methodologies currently in use, the holes in current practice, and new ideas on how to incorporate IoT and big data in waste management. Furthermore, several case studies ‘success stories’ are highlighted to explain and quantify an actual application of these technologies in different sectors of the agro-food chain with tangible results in terms of reduction of the number of wastes and gains in efficiency. The application of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies and big data analytics for real-time handling of agro-food waste is a major problem in the agro-food sector. The conclusions highlight the positive effect of IoT and big data in tackling agro-food waste; at the same time, they give practical suggestions for the key players throughout the supply chain. Thus, our study gives insights into a shift in the management of agro-food waste through efficient technology and rallying policymakers, industry experts, and researchers to fully capture technological improvements for development.
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