With about one third of all food wasted, food loss is a global problem. It occurs in all supply chain phases, with transportation accounting for a large share of spoilage. Wireless sensor networks can be used to monitor transportation processes and counteract these losses. This thesis addresses the requirements and explores the challenges of such systems. Important aspects are the deployment, communication and power supply of the sensor system. Additionally, a cost-benefit analysis has been conducted to assess the economic value of transportation monitoring systems.