Information and insights harnessed from Big Data could drive considerable growth and innovation in the food and Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) industry, say experts from the industry, service providers and academia, including researchers from Singapore’s Agency for Science, Technology and Research ( A*STAR ). This was one of the key outcomes of a workshop on “Smart Data and the Food and FMCG Industry”, held in partnership between A*STAR and Food Industry Asia (FIA).The application of data science and analytics in the food and FMCG industry presents significant opportunities when applied to consumer insights, product development, design and quality control, and could help drive food security and safety. However, to fully harness the available insights and information, partnership and collaboration between all stakeholders is vital.



Mr Žiga Drev, Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer, Origintrail, presents as part of a panel discussion on the "Current State and Application of Data Analytics in FMCG Industry" during the "Smart Data and the Food and FMCG Industry" workshop on 28 November in Singapore.





Mr John G. Keogh, President and Principal Advisor, Shantalla Inc. – Toronto and Ho Chi Minh City, delivering the keynote address at the workshop, said that with technological innovation happening at lightning speed, food and FMCG companies will need to urgently look at when, how and why they incorporate blockchain, artificial intelligence (AI), big data analytics and the Internet of Things (IoT), if they are to remain relevant.“Many organisations have trapped sources of value in hidden data silos. Often referred to as ‘dark data’, when exposed through data analytics, it can provide previously unknown and unexplored business insights. This smart data approach, coupled with technological innovation, is really the new normal for the food industry. It’s not ‘business as usual’, as disruptions driven by big data analytics, AI and automation will drive rapid industry change,” he said.In the sessions that followed, several speakers presented industry perspectives on big data. Using a real-life case study of shrimp farming, Mr Loo Soo Kiat, Director – Data & Analytics (Deals Advisory) at PricewaterhouseCoopers ( PwC ), explained how companies can use technology and innovation in data analytics to improve aspects of the food value chain.Explaining how Thomson Reuters leverages data science to drive innovation, Ms Sanjna Parasrampuria, Head of Thomson Reuters Labs , Asia Region, described how the company collects petabytes (a petabyte is a multiple of the unit byte for digital information. It is presented as 1015 in the International System of Units (SI)). Ms Parasrampuria then set out to simplify and demystify the very term “big data”.Dr Ankur Purwar, Group Scientist, Procter & Gamble (P&G), presented Olay Skin Advisor , a web-based skin analyst and advisor tool that uses AI to provide female consumers with personalised attention and recommendations for the products perfectly suited for their respective skin types. Dr Purwar mentioned how the image analysis tool brings technology and research, which had previously only taken place in the laboratory, to life for consumers.This was followed by a lively panel discussion with Mr Keogh, Mr Loo, and representatives from Origintrail Nielsen Singapore and A*STAR, sharing their views on the current state, impact and opportunities for the application of data analytics in the food and FMCG industry.