Food and beverage producers are facing intense pressure to increase output with fewer resources, driven by rising costs, shifting consumer demands, and ambitious sustainability targets. As the industry pivots towards digitalisation, Tetra Pak has chosen Dubai for the global launch of its advanced automation portfolio, Tetra Pak® Factory OS™, designed to accelerate the transition to smart factories.
The Pressures on Modern Food Production
By 2050, the world will need to produce 60% more food to support a population of nearly 10 billion, a goal that must be met without significantly expanding land use. This challenge is particularly acute in the Middle East, a region that imports up to 85% of its food and contends with water scarcity, high energy costs, and legacy infrastructure.
Despite these hurdles, the region’s food and beverage sector is projected to grow at a compound annual rate of 6.5% between 2025 and 2031. This growth has made food security a national priority, embedded in government strategies such as Saudi Vision 2030 and the UAE National Vision 2030. With limited arable land, automation and digitalisation have become essential tools for building long-term resilience and accelerating green innovation and investment.
From Traditional Automation to Smart Factories
For decades, automation has improved efficiency and safety in manufacturing. However, traditional systems were often rigid, creating isolated data silos that limited visibility and hindered complex decision-making. The industry is now at a turning point, with technologies like edge computing, cloud integration, and artificial intelligence enabling factories to operate in real time.
According to McKinsey, automation is expected to account for 25% of capital spending for industrial companies through 2028. The ability to overcome challenges like poor data quality and complex integration will be critical. Success will not only transform production but could reshape the entire value chain, making agility the new standard for competitiveness.
Tetra Pak’s New Digital Ecosystem
The new Tetra Pak® Factory OS™ is a portfolio of automation and digital solutions purpose-built for food and beverage production. It creates a connected ecosystem of hardware and software that links equipment, data, and people across the entire factory. The system is designed to turn raw data into contextualised insights that support faster and more consistent decisions.
Built on industry standards, open technologies, and embedded cybersecurity, the platform offers a scalable path to digitalisation. This allows producers to start with smaller projects and expand as their operations grow, helping them to reduce costs, improve product quality, and increase productivity.
The Tangible Benefits of Digitalisation
By creating a unified digital backbone, the system helps manufacturers realise the full value of their data and apply AI meaningfully. The results are measurable. Citing its experience with over 1,250 smart factory deployments, Tetra Pak notes that highly automated dairies achieve up to 20% higher overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) and 45% less product waste compared to their less automated counterparts.
However, technology adoption is only part of the solution. Overcoming underlying challenges such as skills gaps, cultural resistance, and fragmented investments requires a clear strategy. This involves developing structured roadmaps with partners who understand both the operational realities and digital possibilities of the food and beverage industry.
The factories of the future will not just produce food; they will continuously optimise its production. They will be designed to conserve water and energy, automatically allocate resources, and provide teams with clear insights instead of overwhelming them with data. As AI and automation converge, manufacturers in the region who embrace integrated and connected smart factories will be best positioned to lead a more efficient and sustainable food future.
