Food-related pests present a diverse and complex challenge to food and beverage manufacturers around the world. Each year, these pests result in millions of dollars in economic losses due to the damage and destruction of products, as well as the expenses associated with managing and controlling them. However, food-related pests are often difficult to monitor, detect and identify, making proactive and pre-emptive management of their risk a task many businesses have difficulty with. Efforts to reduce the impact of food-related pests often necessitate enhanced coordination and cooperation among stakeholders. In some countries, additional constraints on the selection of effective insecticide options pose further obstacles to achieving efficient and cost-effective management.

In recent years, the emergence and development of IoT and 'Intelligent' pest monitoring solutions have presented an exciting opportunity to transform the way food-related pests are managed, moving towards long-term sustainable and cost-effective prevention. This presentation will offer an overview of major food-related pests and how strategies to anticipate their presence and implement corrective measures are evolving with the latest detection technologies and AI-enabled analysis.