An IoT-enabled learning environment for food processing – meat cooling as a use case

Safe food cooling is a key part of food production, but there has been relatively little research on the digitization of the cooling process itself and its educational applications.

This study developed an IoT-based monitoring system for an educational food processing environment, using the meat cooling process as an illustrative use case. The goal was to integrate food safety requirements and modern IoT technologies into a practical learning environment.

The system integrates Bluetooth temperature sensors, Home Assistant edge computing, MQTT messaging, and cloud-based database and visualization solutions to enable continuous process monitoring. The solution allows students to view real-time temperature data and visually track the progress of the cooling process. At the same time, they become familiar with modern digital tools that are increasingly used in the food industry.

The study identified key objectives for educational IoT environments, such as process data transparency, real-time monitoring, data accessibility, and practical interaction with real-world systems. The implemented system demonstrated that scalable learning environments can be built using low-cost technologies based on open standards, without the need for heavy or expensive infrastructure.

The solution was found to enhance students’ understanding of food safety and the functioning of digital monitoring systems. Real-time visualization made the cooling process more visible than before and helped students grasp the importance of temperature control as part of production quality and regulatory compliance. At the same time, the system provides a foundation for future closed-loop IoT solutions, where data can also be utilized in automated decision-making and process optimization.

Research shows that IoT technologies can serve as an effective bridge between practical training in the food industry and Industry 4.0-style digital production environments. Developing learning environments centered on real-time data, sensor technology, and cloud services supports the development of digital competencies among future food industry professionals.

The results of the project have been reported in the research article: IoT-Supported Learning Environment for Food Processing: Meat Cooling as a Use Case. Published at the 11th International Conference on Internet of Things, Big Data and Security (IoTBDS 2026 Forum).