LONDON – A growing global population and the need to reduce food waste, among other factors, continue to drive key developments in the transport of temperature sensitive foods and beverages, explained Technavio, a leading global technology research and advisory company.

In its Perishable Goods Transportation Market report, Technavio identified three emerging trends in the perishable goods transportation market. First, the industry is moving toward the integration of GPS tracking and temperature monitoring systems.

“To avoid the huge loss of goods, manufacturers have started installing temperature monitoring systems in the refrigerated units,” said Sharan Raj, a lead analyst from Technavio specializing in research on the logistics sector. “Through the temperature monitoring system, a temperature alarm is set in each truck or trailer that is monitored either through fleet management software or intelligent alarm units.”

Next, smarter technologies in refrigerated cargo are rising in prevalence, according to Technavio. Companies are making significant investments in IT infrastructure and sensors that provide temperature and location data in real time. Other technologies employed in the logistics industry include spiral compressors, which primarily are used in air conditioning equipment to increase efficiency, Technavio noted.

Finally, shippers also are concerned about pollution — from vehicle emissions and secondary sources such as packaging and warehousing. In response, shippers are tapping vendors with smaller carbon footprints. Refrigerated transport providers increasingly are choosing electric and other vehicles that run on renewable energy sources, according to Technavio. Additionally, some companies are adopting “green logistics” concepts related to  fleet management, green storage and packaging, logistics environment management, alternative fuel implementation, green transportation, and logistics innovation.

“The rise in the global population is a factor that is contributing to the growth of the perishable goods transportation market,” Raj said. “The growing population and the food wastage due to spoilage mandate the need for food preservation for longer periods to deal with the subsequent shortage of food.”