REVOLUTIONIZING RICE PROCESSING: THE ROLE OF INNOVATIVE DRYING AND MILLING TECHNOLOGIES IN ENHANCING QUALITY AND ECONOMIC OUTCOMES
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35631/IJIREV.824020Keywords:
Innovative Drying Technologies, Milling Efficiency, Economic Sustainability, Agro-processing Industry, Technology AdoptionAbstract
Rice, as a staple food for more than half of the global population, faces persistent challenges in post-harvest processing, particularly during drying and milling. Traditional drying methods often result in excessive energy consumption, grain fissuring, and nutrient degradation. At the same time, conventional milling practices frequently compromise head rice yield and overall product quality. These inefficiencies limit both the economic returns for producers and the sustainability of rice value chains. Addressing this gap, the present study aims to investigate how innovative drying and milling technologies can enhance rice quality, improve milling efficiency, and support economic sustainability. Using a narrative review methodology, data were systematically collected through the Scopus database and analyzed using an integrative thematic approach to identify key technological advancements, concepts, and theoretical perspectives. The findings indicate that advanced thermal drying technologies and IoT-assisted solar drying systems have been shown in experimental and pilot-scale studies to improve moisture control, reduce grain fissuring, and better preserve nutritional quality compared to conventional methods. Collectively, the literature suggests that these innovations may contribute to economic sustainability by improving processing efficiency, reducing energy intensity, and increasing value-added output. Theoretically, the study advances agricultural innovation scholarship by integrating diffusion of innovation and socio-technical systems perspectives to explain how adoption factors mediate technological and sustainability outcomes. Practically, the review highlights the importance of targeted investment, capacity building, and phased implementation strategies. The study concludes by identifying financial, technical, and knowledge-based adoption barriers and recommends future research on techno-economic assessments, pilot implementation, and digital integration strategies to optimize rice processing systems.
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