Recently introduced laser ovens have rapidly gained market share, particularly in efficiency-focused industries such as lithium-ion battery cell manufacturing and processes like drying or curing industrial coatings such as paint or powder coatings. High-efficiency laser heating solutions are poised to impact the food processing industry as low-carbon footprint alternatives to traditional ovens. Laser ovens efficiently process food with precise control, saving energy. Diode lasers, combining the lowest cost per watt with the highest energy conversion efficiency, emerge as the most suitable laser type for heating applications. Understanding more facets of laser processing is crucial to ensuring that valuable properties of foods, such as nutrition, taste, and texture, remain unaffected.

A team of 20 robots on a farm in Lincolnshire has successfully harvested three million strawberries, allowing them to reach the market shelves in the UK out of season. These robots possess the ability to recognize when strawberries are ready for harvest. This project demonstrates how technology supports increasing strawberry production during the cold months in the UK and reducing food miles caused by imported strawberries.

In France, mandatory composting regulations came into effect on January 1, 2024. The new law mandates the recycling of organic waste. With the support of the Government’s Green Fund, municipalities must provide residents with the necessary methods to separate bio-waste, including food residues, vegetable peels, expired food items, and garden waste. Household and commercial entities are required to dispose of organic waste either in a private, small compost bin at home or at a municipal collection point provided by the local authorities.