The AI ​​market in the food industry is experiencing explosive growth.

DNVN - In the context of rapidly changing consumer demands, AI is seen as a key to helping food businesses shorten product lifecycles and increase competitiveness.

On April 22nd, a workshop titled "Application of AI and Data in Food Product Research and Development" was held in Ho Chi Minh City, organized by the Ho Chi Minh City Trade and Investment Promotion Center (ITPC) in collaboration with the Ho Chi Minh City Digital Transformation Support and Consulting Center (DXCenter).

The event showcased digital solutions that help businesses optimize production, shorten product development time, and enhance competitiveness. It also concluded a series of five thematic workshops within the framework of the 5th Ho Chi Minh City International Food and Beverage Exhibition (HCMC FOODEX 2026).

Mr. Le Anh Hoang - Deputy Director of ITPC.

Speaking at the conference, Mr. Le Anh Hoang, Deputy Director of ITPC, said that artificial intelligence is present in almost all stages of business operations, from analyzing customer preferences and optimizing product research and development formulas to forecasting consumer trends on e-commerce platforms.

According to ITPC leaders, AI is no longer a technology of the future but has become an essential tool in modern business management, especially in the Food and Beverage industry, one of the four key industries of Ho Chi Minh City. The application of AI and real-world data is considered a key factor in helping businesses enhance their competitiveness in a rapidly changing market with increasingly high quality demands.

Intelligent platforms enable businesses to detect risks in production early, manage supply chains effectively, control quality, and analyze consumer trends to develop appropriate strategies.

According to Dr. Nguyen Ba Thanh, Director of the Institute of Biotechnology and Food (Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry), the AI ​​market size in the food industry is expected to reach US$18.3 billion by 2026 and could increase to US$84-88 billion by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate of approximately 39%.

However, the food industry still faces many challenges, with a long new product development cycle of 18-36 months, high research costs, and rapidly changing consumer tastes. Approximately 80% of new products are rejected from the market within the first year.

The application of data and AI can help shorten product development time by up to 50%, bringing products to market within 3-9 months, while reducing sensory evaluation costs by approximately 40%. According to Mr. Thanh, data is a crucial foundation, but the decisive factor remains the combination of technology and the expertise of the team of specialists.

Experts discuss the practical applications of AI and data in food product research and development.

From an operational perspective, Mr. Phi Anh Tuan, Head of the Digital Transformation Consulting Board for the State and Enterprise Sector at DXCenter, stated that computer vision technology is opening up new avenues for food factories. When integrated into the production line, the system can detect visual defects with over 95% accuracy, helping to improve quality control efficiency.

Thanks to automation, businesses can reduce the rate of defective products by 30-70% and save 40-60% on quality control personnel costs. Simultaneously, automated decision-making models help optimize inventory, reducing stock levels by 20-40%, decreasing cancellation rates by up to 60%, and improving service responsiveness by 10-20%.

According to experts, the combination of computer vision and automated decision-making systems will form an intelligent management model capable of warning of risks, suggesting adjustments, and preventing incidents early in the supply chain. This is a crucial step that will help the food industry move towards a smart factory model, optimizing costs while ensuring food quality and safety.

Through this workshop, ITPC hopes that businesses will gain more tools to optimize resources, build long-term strategies, and enhance innovation capabilities, thereby increasing value and gradually asserting the position of the Vietnamese food industry in the international market.

Thanh Nga

Source: https://doanhnghiepvn.vn/chuyen-doi-so/thi-truong-ai-nganh-thuc-pham-phat-trien-bung-no/20260422050126542