Thank AI for Your Food Quality
- By CDOTrends editors
- January 17, 2023
The grain growing industry in South Australia has begun using an AI-powered app that helps them assess the quality of their grain, increase productivity and make better-informed trading decisions.
The GoMicro Assessor app uses visual machine learning via artificial intelligence to assess the quality of lentil samples based on the seed coat's color, size, breaks and wrinkles, and the presence of any contaminants.
The app was developed by an Adelaide-based company called GoMicro, based in the Tonsley innovation district, which has been repurposed from a car manufacturing plant to a hi-tech incubation hub.
The initial release is focused on lentil crops, with a second app for wheat to be released later in 2023.
GoMicro chief executive Dr. Sivam Krish said the GoMicro Assessor could accurately assess thousands of lentil seeds in one minute with an accuracy of more than 95%.
Krish said the difference between GoMicro and other grain assessment technology in development worldwide was its use of an associated patent-pending device which created studio-quality lighting at all locations, including outdoors on farms.
The device removes shadows and distracting backgrounds, eliminating the need for expensive machinery, industrial cameras, and grain feeders to separate the grain before it is photographed.
“We are putting this technology in the hands of farmers, who have traditionally been price-takers,” he said.
“A lot of farmers are now using on-farm storage, so the app will empower them to assess their grain themselves and make decisions on when to sell.”
The app is currently in a trial phase with seed cleaning company Walco Seed Cleaning, one of three companies testing its effectiveness.
Walco Seed Cleaning’s Kurt Walter said the GoMicro Assessor was a game changer for growers.
“It will provide them with convenience and the confidence of knowing the grade of their grain before it’s even loaded on the truck,” he said.
“It will also be a big help to growers who store on-farm, so they can keep closer track of their grain quality through the year.”
The technology has other potential applications, and future versions could also assess seed counts so growers can adjust their seeding rates, check germination rates, and monitor for disease.
Image credit: iStockphoto/nzfhatipoglu