Food Robotics Market Size & Forecast

The Food Robotics Market is expected to reach $2.8 billion by 2031, at a CAGR of 11.6% from 2024 to 2031. The growth of this market is driven by factors such as increasing food safety regulations, rising investments in robotics by food & beverage companies, increasing in the food & beverage sector, and a growing focus on efficient food packaging. Furthermore, the rising demand from emerging economies is expected to create market growth opportunities. However, the high installation costs may restrain market growth. Additionally, the low adoption of robotics among SMEs in the food & beverage sector is a significant challenge impeding the market’s growth.

Food Robotics Market Growth Drivers

Increasing Food Safety Regulations

Securing the world's food supply necessitates regulating and monitoring the supply chain. Ensuring food safety involves a wide array of processes, spanning from on-farm production to processing, distribution, storage, selection, preparation, and consumption. National legal frameworks are crucial in establishing effective food control systems. Across all countries, food is subject to a complex set of laws and regulations that outline the government's requirements for food chain operators to ensure food safety and quality standards.

Annually, unsafe food contributes to 600 million cases of foodborne illnesses and 420,000 deaths worldwide. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in the U.S. alone, foodborne diseases are responsible for an estimated 76 million illnesses, 350,000 hospitalizations, and 5,000 deaths yearly. Approximately 30% of foodborne deaths occur in children under five years old. The WHO African region is estimated to have the highest burden of foodborne diseases per capita, with over 91 million illnesses and 137,000 deaths reported annually. Diarrheal diseases account for 70% of foodborne illnesses in the African Region. In order to mitigate these risks, governments worldwide are implementing various regulations and policies aimed at ensuring the safety of food consumed by humans.

In 2021, the USFDA strengthened its focus on its New Era of Smarter Food Safety strategy, which involves expanded use of whole-genome sequencing, accelerated response to outbreaks—particularly as new food-risk factors emerge—and heightened attention on the safety of imported products, as well as restaurant and retail establishments.

Furthermore, Phase 3 of the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR) is anticipated to be implemented, bringing numerous sectors—such as baked goods, confections, snack foods, cereals, and processed products—under the scope of licensing and Preventive Control Program. In Canada, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is focusing on escalating audits, moving towards a more stringent auditing approach and enhanced enforcement measures.

Numerous governments worldwide are imposing regulations to address foodborne illnesses, driven by significant shifts in the global food system and increased awareness of the consequences of such illnesses. For instance, the Food and Drug Administration implemented the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) to enhance food processing safety in both human and animal food industries. Hence, with the rising emphasis on food safety, food robots are emerging as crucial tools for overseeing processes.

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Increasing Digitalization in the Food & Beverage Sector

Digitalization refers to optimizing business processes through new digital technologies like big data analytics, IT/OT convergence, digital twin, artificial intelligence, 3D printing, and automation technologies. IoT and AI are helping companies reach high levels of food safety, improve traceability, cut down waste, and reduce costs and risks across the various stages of food processing and packaging.

In recent years, digital strategies have become indispensable in the F&B sector, especially as companies navigate challenges like seasonal demand fluctuations. F&B companies are leveraging ERP solutions to identify previously overlooked business opportunities and streamline processes. For instance, in North America and Western Europe, digital strategies enable companies to analyze customer needs and trends impacting the demand for diverse food & beverage products. The widespread adoption of digital strategies across industries fosters increased efficiency and customization, facilitating automated operations without complexity in production lines.

Digitalization has emerged as a crucial facilitator of automation, with AI driving operational productivity by enhancing workforce efficiency. Various regulations govern the use of digitalization in the F&B industry. The USFDA's Food Safety Modernization Act mandates food organizations to modernize their approaches to HACCP principles through the use of ERP systems. Leveraging technology for the HACCP process and maintaining databases aids organizations in monitoring their products comprehensively, ensuring compliance with food safety standards. Additionally, the potential application of 3D printing technology for testing, research, and development purposes is poised to bolster its adoption for mass production.

Adopting intelligent systems equipped with sensors and context-aware capabilities facilitates remote operations with minimal errors while also facilitating traceability and transparency across food safety protocols. Many F&B companies are integrating cognitive platforms into their automated production lines to reduce error margins and enhance quality control and traceability.

Furthermore, F&B companies are incorporating other technologies associated with automation processes, including robotics, edge computing, blockchain, and cybersecurity. The adoption of automation and digital technologies has resulted in enhanced efficiency and competitiveness in the F&B sector.

Food Robotics Market Opportunity

Rising Demand from Emerging Economies

In emerging economies, the integration of robotics into the F&B sector offers food manufacturers significant opportunities for sustainable growth and enhanced competitiveness. As these economies embrace technologically advanced solutions, food manufacturers are capitalizing on cost-effective automation to achieve greater production volumes and efficiency gains surpassing those achievable through traditional methods alone. The prevalence of labor shortages and rising labor costs in many emerging economies is driving food manufacturers to adopt automation solutions to maintain competitiveness and ensure sustained profitability.

Robotics play a pivotal role in reducing reliance on manual labor, thereby curbing operational costs and mitigating risks associated with workforce availability. Moreover, technological advancements in robotics have rendered these solutions more affordable and adaptable to various food processing tasks, enabling manufacturers to optimize their operations with lower investment requirements. These factors, coupled with the increasing demand for processed and packaged foods due to urbanization and evolving consumer lifestyles, are driving the need for efficient manufacturing processes, consequently driving the growth of the food robotics market.

Food Robotics Market Analysis: Key Findings

By Type: In 2024, the Articulated Robots Segment to Dominate the Food Robotics Market

Based on type, the global food robotics market is broadly segmented into articulated robots, delta & parallel robots, collaborative robots, cartesian robots, cylindrical robots, and portal robots. In 2024, the articulated robots segment is expected to account for the largest share of over 37.8% of the food robotics market. The large market share of this segment can be attributed to the high load capacity and flexibility offered by these robots, growing emphasis on controlling food contamination, increasing use of autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) equipped with articulated arms for inventory management in warehouses and distribution centers, and growing use of articulated robots in the food industry for pick and place operations, packaging applications, and sorting and inspecting food products.

However, the collaborative robots segment is projected to witness the highest growth rate during the forecast period of 2024–2031. This growth is driven by the growing use of cobots for tasks such as picking and placing food items into containers or packaging trays, the increasing use of cobots equipped with vision systems for quality inspection tasks, and the need to optimize inventory tracking and replenishment processes, improve productivity, and safety while supporting human workers in diverse tasks across food production, processing, and service operations. Companies worldwide are adopting collaborative robots due to their efficiency. For instance, Cascina Italia uses collaborative robots that efficiently process millions of eggs per day. This collaborative robot, manufactured by Universal Robots A/S, minimizes human intervention from the strenuous process of preparing bulky packages for large-scale distribution. Moreover, it leverages fenceless operation, allowing the cobot to work side-by-side with employees in production lines.

By Payload: In 2024, the Medium Payload Segment to Dominate the Food Robotics Market

Based on payload, the global food robotics market is broadly segmented into high, low, and medium payload. In 2024, the medium payload segment is expected to account for the largest share of over 47.2% of the food robotics market. This segment’s large market share can be attributed to advancements in medium payload robots designed for packaging, food handling, and pick-and-place applications, coupled with enhancements in gripping technology and the integration of vacuum assistance.

However, the low payload segment is projected to witness the highest growth rate during the forecast period of 2024–2031. The growth of this segment is driven by the rising adoption of low payload robots due to their compact design, enabling operation in confined workspaces and facilitating the automation of highly repetitive and tedious tasks. Moreover, these robots reduce cycle time and enhance overall productivity.

By Application: In 2024, the Palletizing & Depalletizing Segment to Dominate the Food Robotics Market

Based on application, the global food robotics market is broadly segmented into palletizing & depalletizing, packaging & repacking, pick & place, cutting & slicing, grading & sorting, butchery, quality inspection, and other applications. In 2024, the palletizing & depalletizing segment is expected to account for the largest share of over 28.2% of the food robotics market. This segment’s large market share can be attributed to the growing use of robots for loading & unloading boxes, bags, cases, bottles, cartons, and other items to or from pallets. These robots improve throughput, enhance quality, provide better working conditions, and improve operational efficiency.

However, the packaging & repacking segment is projected to witness the highest growth rate during the forecast period of 2024–2031. This growth is driven by the widespread adoption of packaging & repacking robots to accelerate cycle times and enhance productivity, the increasing demand for robots to optimize packaging operations and boost overall operational efficiency, and the rising popularity of convenience and ready-to-eat packaged foods. Additionally, stringent regulations pertaining to food safety and hygiene are driving manufacturers to embrace automated packaging processes to minimize human contact and mitigate the risk of contamination.

By End Use: In 2024, the Dairy Segment to Dominate the Food Robotics Market

Based on end use, the global food robotics market is broadly segmented into dairy, beverages, bakery & confectionery, meat, poultry, and seafood, fruits and vegetables, oil & fats, and other end uses. In 2024, the dairy segment is expected to account for the largest share of over 27.3% of the food robotics market. This segment’s large market share can be attributed to the growing need to improve quality & productivity and reduce production costs, the rising demand for high-quality dairy products, and various government initiatives to promote the dairy sector. The implementation of robots in the dairy processing industry provides safety, quality, and profitability by optimizing process monitoring and control. Robots help in efficiently handling and managing complex repetitive tasks such as treating & manufacturing raw milk and filling & packaging of milk and milk-based products such as butter, ice cream, yogurt, cheese, and milk powder.

However, the beverages segment is projected to witness the highest growth rate during the forecast period of 2024–2031. This growth is driven by the growing need to maintain quality, consistency, and hygiene and optimize production processes. Additionally, the rising demand for enhanced precision and safety in production operations in the beverage sector has prompted several robotic companies to develop innovative solutions aimed at minimizing waste, optimizing profitability, and enhancing the safety standards of the food supply chain. Robots offer enhanced control over beverage quality through precise monitoring, ensuring consistent adherence to performance parameters.

Geographical Analysis

In 2024, Asia-Pacific Region to Dominate the Food Robotics Market

In 2024, Asia-Pacific is expected to account for the largest share of over 48.2% of the global food robotics market. Asia-Pacific food robotics market is estimated to be worth USD 0.62 billion in 2024. Asia-Pacific’s significant market share can be attributed to the growing awareness regarding food hygiene and safety, the increasing demand for automated solutions to enhance efficiency and productivity in food manufacturing and packaging processes, the significant advances in technology, including AI, IoT, and robotics, stringent food safety regulations, and the widespread adoption of autonomous robots to manage inventory, track stock levels, and optimize warehouse operations for food storage and distribution, and quality inspection of food products. Moreover, the market in Asia-Pacific is projected to register the highest growth rate during the forecast period.

Food Robotics Market: Key Companies

The report offers a competitive analysis based on an extensive assessment of the leading players’ product portfolios and geographic presence and the key growth strategies adopted by them over the past 3–4 years. Some of the key players operating in the food robotics market are ABB Ltd (Switzerland), Fanuc Corporation (Japan), Yaskawa Electric Corporation (Japan), Kuka AG(Germany), Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (Japan), Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. (Japan), Universal Robots A/S (Denmark), Stäubli International AG (Switzerland), Denso Corporation (Japan), Seiko Epson Corporation (Japan), Mayekawa Mfg. Co., Ltd. (Japan), Omron Corporation (Japan), and Autonox Robotics GmbH (Germany).

Food Robotics Industry Overview: Latest Developments from Key Industry Players

• In April 2023, Doosan Robotics (South Korea) launched its E-SERIES, a line of NSF-certified collaborative robots tailored specifically for the food and beverage (F&B) industry. Emphasizing food safety as a top priority, the company highlighted the robots' design, which includes sealed gaps between the cobot's connecting axes. The E-SERIES is easy to install and seamlessly integrate into various workspaces. These robots offer a payload capacity of 5kg (11 lb.) and a reach of nearly 91 cm (3 ft).
• In March 2023, ABB Ltd (Switzerland) collaborated with Parason Group (India) to automate and up-scale production of sustainable and compostable packaging solutions across canteens in India.
• In October 2022, FOODZAPS TECHNOLOGY PTE. LTD (Singapore) partnered with POSBANK Co., Ltd. (South Korea) and CloudMinds Inc. (China) to launch Singapore's first F&B robotics and smart kiosks to drive innovation and alleviate Singapore's F&B manpower crisis.
• In May 2021, Universal Robots A/S (Denmark) launched UR10e, a robot with a payload of 12.5kg.
• In April 2021, KUKA AG (Germany) launched a hygiene robot, KR Delta Hygienic robot, for pick-and-place applications in the food and packaging industries.
• In February 2021, ABB Ltd (Switzerland) launched collaborative robots, namely GoFa and SWIFTI, in response to the rising demand for automation across various industries, such as electronics, healthcare, consumer goods, logistics, and food & beverage.

Food Robotics Market Research Summary

Key questions answered in the food robotics market report: