Modelling Processes and Products in the Cereal Chain

Area of Science:

• Food Science and Technology
• Agricultural Engineering
• Process Systems Engineering

Background:

• Modeling techniques are increasingly used in food processing, particularly for cereal-based products, to optimize operations and reduce environmental impact.
• Specialization within the food processing chain often limits the dissemination of modeling advances across different stages.
• Existing models rarely integrate multiple steps of the cereal supply chain, hindering a holistic optimization approach.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide the first high-level overview of modeling techniques applied throughout the cereal supply chain.
• To identify common trends, synergies, and knowledge gaps in cereal supply chain modeling.
• To suggest future research directions for integrated modeling in cereal processing.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature review of modeling techniques used in various stages of the cereal supply chain.
• Synthesis of findings from a multinational networking project involving over 30 countries.
• Analysis of current state-of-the-art modeling approaches from farming to consumption.

Main Results:

• Modeling techniques are applied across diverse stages including farming, storage, drying, milling, processing, and consumption.
• Significant advancements in modeling exist within specialized domains, but cross-domain application is limited.
• Identification of common trends and potential synergies between different modeling approaches.

Conclusions:

• An integrated, high-level overview of cereal supply chain modeling is crucial for advancing the field.
• Future research should focus on developing integrated models that span multiple stages of the supply chain.
• Collaboration and knowledge sharing are essential to leverage modeling for cost reduction and sustainability in cereal processing.