Laser technologies in agri-food systems: Enhancing efficiency, quality, safety, and sustainability – a review

Laser technologies, characterized by their unique properties such as monochromaticity, coherence, and directionality, offer versatile, non-contact, and sustainable solutions across the agri-food supply chain. In food systems, lasers contribute to improved safety and quality control through non-thermal microbial inactivation, laser-assisted preservation, and real-time contamination detection. Laser-based heating technologies have demonstrated considerable potential for applications in cooking and baking operations. The laser technology also enhances product traceability and sustainability via permanent, eco-friendly labeling and packaging innovations. Moreover, laser-based sorting and grading systems improve food quality assurance by enabling rapid, non-destructive detection of contaminants and defects. In agriculture, laser applications extend from seed biostimulation and germination enhancement to precision agriculture and pest management. Techniques such as LiDAR mapping, laser-induced spectroscopy, and photobiomodulation are advancing crop monitoring, yield prediction, and stress management. Low-level laser therapy has been shown to enhance photosynthesis, nutrient metabolism, and stress tolerance, while laser-assisted irrigation and land leveling systems significantly improve water-use efficiency. Furthermore, lasers are emerging as sustainable tools for pest and disease control, offering targeted, residue-free alternatives to chemical pesticides. By integrating laser-based systems into food processing, agricultural monitoring, and crop management, this review underscores their transformative potential for achieving sustainability, precision, and quality in the global agri-food sector. Continued interdisciplinary research is essential to optimize laser parameters, reduce costs, and scale applications for commercial adoption. • Non-contact lasers enable safe, non-thermal microbial inactivation • Real-time laser sensing detects contaminants and defects rapidly • Laser marking and sealing improve traceability and sustainability • LiDAR and spectroscopy advance precision crop monitoring and yields • Laser biostimulation boosts germination, growth, and stress tolerance