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Insights Report 2024 , food now accounts for an alarming one-third of all hijacking incidents worldwide . High-profile heists have highlighted the scale of the issue : from the theft of 22 tons of cheese from Neal ’ s Yard Dairy , to € 200,000 of festive ham stolen from a family-run business in Spain .
Alarmingly , the rise of ‘ strategic thefts ’ marks a shift from opportunistic crimes to planned operations . These sophisticated schemes see criminals exploiting stolen identities of carriers and brokers to divert high-value deliveries with precision . The scale of the problem is underscored by North America ’ s staggering 83 percent increase in average loss per shipment during the first half of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023 , reflecting the growing expertise of criminal networks in targeting high-value goods .
The way we package goods can play a crucial role in preventing theft . Subtlety in packaging is key , and since smart labels are designed to resemble ordinary barcodes or information stickers , potential fraudsters remain unaware that their actions are being monitored in real time . Furthermore , smart labels can detect unusual activities , such as box openings at an unexpected time or an unexpected location and send alerts to relay this information .
Ensuring food safety
It ’ s widely recognized that about a third of all food and beverages produced for human consumption is lost or wasted . What might be more surprising is that a staggering 14 percent of food is lost before it even reaches our homes .
The increasing global demand for perishable goods – particularly those requiring temperature-controlled transit ( cold chain logistics ) – is a major factor . According to Fortune Business Insights , the global cold chain logistics market is projected to grow from USD 324.85 billion in 2024 to USD 862.33 billion by 2032 , driven largely by the rise of e-commerce and the growing preference for fresh food . However , maintaining consistent temperatures throughout the supply chain presents significant challenges . Perishable goods can quickly spoil if storage conditions fluctuate , making constant monitoring critical .
Technology plays a vital role in addressing these challenges . Internet of Things ( IoT ) technology enables logistics companies to
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