Paper Title
The Potentials of Reducing Food Loss and Waste From Digital Tools: A Scenario-Based Life Cycle Assessment Approach

Abstract
The application of digital technologies in food supply chains presents a promising avenue for mitigating food loss and waste (FLW) and achieving significant environmental benefits. This study develops an assessment framework based on Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to evaluate the potential environmental benefits of reducing FLW through digital technologies, using the dairy supply chain as a case study. Specifically, the framework incorporates both the environmental impacts associated with the digital technology itself and the impacts of reduced FLW. The LCA focuses on the implementation of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology in the fresh milk supply chain. The results indicate that the environmental benefits from reducing food waste significantly outweigh the environmental impacts of RFID tags by a factor of five. Furthermore, the methodology is applied to assess the dairy supply chains across the 27 European Union countries, providing estimates on the potential reduction of overall impacts through the future widespread adoption of RFID technology. The findings offer valuable insights and recommendations for policymakers, highlighting the role of digital solutions in fostering sustainable food systems. The framework and methodology serve as a reference for strategies aiming to leverage digital innovations to achieve sustainability in food supply chains. Keywords - Footprint, Digital Technologies, Food Loss and Waste, Milk Supply Chain.