Sustainable Livestock Product Processing and Food Safety: The Mediating Role of Smart Quality Monitoring Systems
Abstract
The livestock industry is a vital component of global food systems, providing essential nutrition, employment, and economic benefits. However, ensuring the sustainability of livestock product processing and maintaining food safety remains a significant challenge due to microbial contamination, chemical residues, and inefficiencies in production processes. The adoption of sustainable livestock processing practices—including improved handling, waste management, and energy-efficient operations—can reduce environmental impacts, enhance product quality, and mitigate health risks. Smart quality monitoring systems (SQMS), integrating sensors, Internet of Things (IoT) devices, real-time data analytics, and automated control systems, provide innovative solutions for ensuring product quality and safety. These systems enable continuous monitoring of temperature, humidity, microbial load, and chemical composition during processing, storage, and distribution, allowing for early detection of deviations and preventive interventions. This study investigates the impact of sustainable livestock product processing practices on food safety, emphasizing the mediating role of smart quality monitoring systems. Sustainable practices alone may not guarantee food safety without effective monitoring mechanisms; SQMS ensure adherence to safety standards, traceability, and compliance with regulatory frameworks. A quantitative research design was employed, targeting livestock processing plants, quality control managers, and regulatory officers. Structured questionnaires assessed sustainable processing practices, the implementation of smart quality monitoring systems, and food safety outcomes. Data were analyzed using Smart PLS structural equation modeling to evaluate direct and mediated effects. Results indicate that sustainable livestock processing positively influences food safety. Smart quality monitoring systems significantly mediate this relationship, highlighting that real-time monitoring and automated quality control enhance the effectiveness of sustainable practices. Findings underscore the importance of integrating technological solutions with environmentally responsible practices to achieve safe, high-quality livestock products. Policymakers, industry managers, and technology developers can leverage these insights to strengthen food safety protocols, improve operational efficiency, and promote sustainable livestock production.
