POC Improves food quality and safety using hyperspectral technology in the agri-food industry.

Objective

The POC proposes to integrate hyperspectral technology into agri-food operations to improve food quality and safety. The main objective is to demonstrate how this technology can accurately detect contaminants, assess product quality, and ensure traceability throughout the supply chain.

Meat Quality Control Problem:

Meat quality control is a major concern for our client. The presence of unwanted substances and foreign bodies can compromise food safety and the quality of meat products. Traditional quality control methods are not adequate in a high-volume and fast-paced environment.

Solution Implemented: Hyperspectral Camera Inspection

This system uses spectroscopy and analyzes the spectral characteristics of light reflected by food and foreign bodies.

POC Implementation:

Reference Data Acquisition: The process begins with the acquisition of hyperspectral data. A measurement device, such as a camera, is used to collect the spectral information of the meat.

Data Preprocessing: The raw data collected often requires preprocessing to remove unwanted noise or variations.

Model Development: Once the data is preprocessed, a model is developed. This involves collecting a reference dataset of meat samples with known quality. This data is used to establish a correlation between the measured spectral features and the quality attributes of the meat.

Validation and Optimization: The calibration model is then validated using independent samples to assess its accuracy. If necessary, adjustments and optimizations are made to improve the performance of the system.

Online POC Implementation and Real-Time Control: Once the calibration model is validated, the system is ready for real-time use. Meat samples are analyzed quickly and non-destructively using a camera and lighting system. The spectral features are compared to the calibration models to determine the quality of the meat, the presence of contaminants, or other defects.

Decision Making: The results of the hyperspectral inspection are used to make rapid and informed decisions about the acceptance or rejection of meat products. In case of non-conformity, corrective measures can be taken immediately to prevent the release of defective products into the market.

Potential Benefits :

Product Quality Control: Hyperspectral technology identifies and quantifies contaminants and foreign bodies.

Increased Traceability and Transparency: By collecting accurate data throughout the supply chain, it is possible to track and verify the origin, authenticity, and handling conditions of food products.

Costs and Return on Investment:

Although the initial investment in acquiring the equipment and developing the infrastructure can be significant, the potential savings are substantial. This includes reducing product recalls, losses due to non-compliance, manual inspection costs, and risk management costs.