# Internet of Nonthermal Food Processing Technologies (IoNTP): Food Industry 4.0 and Sustainability
###### Abstract
Each technology has its advantages and disadvantages and there is no single one as appropriate for general use and for general purpose. The application of NTP technologies should be focused on specific and target usage with assuring preservation (food safety), food quality monitoring and total quality assessment with lowest energy and economic resources and least impact to the environment and to the society in general. Waste, energy, economy, and environment are major pillar that needs to be managed in terms of Agenda 2030 and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Energy conservation is vital for the sustainable development of the food industry. Nonthermal technologies can be implemented in food industry in terms of reduced energy consumption, reducing energy costs and help to the society in general by reducing the use of energy resources and the emission of many air pollutants such as CO\({}_{2}\). In food processing industry it has become significant to improve the energy efficiency and replace the existing energy-intensive unit operations with new energy-efficient processes [6]. Industry 4.0 also refers to smart factories that enables to address issues such as food safety, security, control, energy consumption, demand predictions of food manufacturing. The aim of this review was to bring in front necessity to evaluate possibilities of implementing smart sensors, artificial intelligence (AI), big data, additive technologies with nonthermal technologies, with the possibility to create smart factories together with strong emphasis on sustainability. As a result of this part of the review, a SWOT matrix of novel food processing techniques has been created. Upon analysis of the sustainability perspective of nonthermal food processing associated with Food industry 4.0, second SWOT matrix has been developed. The three pillars of sustainability refer to environmental, economic and social impacts of nonthermal technologies (i.e., energy balances, life cycle assessment (LCA), waste production/reduction, cost of production, impact to society) as well to set novel approach to introduce nonthermal technologies as smart systems in food industries. Literature review concerning sustainability of NTPs has been performed by analyzing manuscripts refer in scientific databases, mainly Web of Science, ScienceDirect and Google Scholar, revealing articles (research papers and reviews), targeting environmental/social impacts of NTPs and their relation with Industry 4.0 technologies, LCA studies focused on a specific food NTPs, and/or analysis of specific environmental impacts associated with food NTPs such as energy, water, climate change). The selection criterion was that food related NTP articles cover any environmental/sustainability dimension within the Industry 4.0 perspective. However, when keywords related to Food industry 4.0, sustainability and non-thermal food processing technologies were added to searching engines, two types of manuscripts were found: (i) papers connecting NTP and Industry 4.0, and (ii) manuscripts covering NTPs and sustainability. All three have not been in focus by author and this was identified as a research gap by the authors of this manuscript. As a result of the literature review, two SWOT (Strength, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) analyses have been performed. First in relation to novel food processing techniques and second associating Food Industry 4.0 and sustainability dimensions. In both cases, scholars from University of Zagreb--Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology and University of Belgrade--Faculty of Agriculture with expertise in nonthermal food technologies and food sustainability created these SWOT matrices, using a Delphi method to stimulate and synthesize the opinions of these experts. Delphi method is often used to elicit experts' knowledge and achieve consensus [7].