Additive manufacturing and agri-food value chain: Business and innovation implications

Abstract

Agri food supply chain is currently facing a lot of challenges to provide adequate and nutritious food and the challenge are predicted to grow manifold in future with increasing population. Solution to the rising problem is sought both in traditional ways of producing foods and integrating innovative technologies. Here, implications of additive manufacturing, an innovative manufacturing technology, are discussed keeping whole agri food value chain in purview. Ways to implement additive manufacturing capabilities in agri food system and its benefits are explained. The paper concludes by posing few questions which can lay foundation for future research.