AgNext Technologies introduces AI-based devices to test products quality

A Punjab-dependent business, AgNext Technologies, has appear up with a method dependent on digital technological know-how and synthetic intelligence (AI) that combines components, computer software and algorithms to test agricultural goods for high-quality. AgNext Technologies, headquartered at Mohali in Punjab, has appear up with this giving at a time when testing of deliver these types of as spices have been impacted as the next phase of Covid has impacted the availability of manpower.

“Testing samples from farmers cuts both equally approaches. Farmers could be disgruntled as they may perhaps really feel they are not paid the proper price tag for the proper high-quality. It can be the other way far too the place a purchaser feels he is not obtaining the proper high-quality for the price tag he is eager to shell out,” sais Taranjit Singh Bhamra, Main Government Officer and founder of AgNext Technologies.

AgNext has in essence appear up with two launches. 1 is the Electronic Coworker which is a portal gadget weighing fewer than two kg that uses AI together with computer system vision.

Also examine: AgNext — cultivating tech to analyse farm deliver high-quality in 30 seconds!

For example, the Electronic Coworker assessments the high-quality of chilli or turmeric and provides out information of the capsaicin or curcumin content material aside from humidity, color and other these types of actual physical parameters. “The gadget can provide all these information in a subject of 30 seconds. The details is then launched to a central method to enable the purchaser or consumer to get information on the high-quality of the goods,” Bhamra instructed BusinessLine.

Relying on experience

Tests high-quality is often a challenging challenge with many consumers or traders relying on their experience. Nevertheless, at the finish of the day one particular of the stakeholders ends unhappy.

“This gadget should really depart both equally the events satisfied given that at the press of a button all the information on the high-quality of the deliver is built obtainable in a subject of fewer than a moment,” stated the CEO of AgNext Technologies, which National Agricultural Cooperative Internet marketing Federation (Nafed), Olam, Goodricke and the Compass team between its clientele.

The firm on its website states it assessments 40 commodities for approximately 500-furthermore high-quality parameters.

“During the present Covid time when availability of manpower is an challenge, the Electronic Coworker can enable perform at a more quickly clip. It is also a action towards digitalising procurement and other high-quality processes,” Bhamra stated.

The next gadget AgNext Technologies gives is Specx weighing seven kg and can be applied for testing in all foods worth-chain and warehouses.

“Specx can be applied by significant exporters and other foods worth-chains for testing the high-quality. The gadget gives information of the solution by means of dependable technological know-how in a correct ambiance and a clear way,” the AgNext Technologies CEO and founder stated.

Fundamentally, both equally units use AI to analyse the high-quality of a deliver. Then, they put spectra technological know-how to fantastic use the place the gentle reflection technological know-how is utilised to analyse the chemical high-quality of the product.

“The gentle reflection is the exact same technological know-how that Sir C V Raman produced and was awarded the Nobel prize,” states Bhamra, a solution of Indian Institute of Technological know-how (IIT), Kharagpur, and Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta (IIM-C).

AgNext Technologies gives these options for spices these types of as pepper and turmeric, foodgrains, oilseeds, pulses, tea and milk. “We have got a significant publicity in foodgrains and milk sectors,” he stated.

No manpower essential

The units do not need any manpower nor is any consumable essential as its pure “technology at work”, he stated.

On the other hand, there is also a lack of human methods for testing the high-quality of agricultural deliver. The units can fill in this void far too.

Included in 2016, the firm first commenced carrying out analysis and testing ahead of it released its first solution a couple of many years later on. “For 2-3 many years, we labored on analysis, hands-on in electronics to make the required algorithm perfect. We gathered about 4,000 foods samples to perfect our technological know-how,” Bhamra stated.

It first came out with units for tea, foodgrains, pulses and milk ahead of introducing them for spices in January last yr.

At present, AgNext Technologies would make outright revenue of its units or rents them out as for each the customer’s decision. “Our prices are reasonably priced. For example, a curcumin test in turmeric can price tag anyplace amongst ₹600 and ₹900 but with our gadget it would be ₹50-a hundred,” he stated.

The firm, which has captivated investments to the tune of $4 million from enterprise capitals these types of as Omnivore and Kalaari Money, is now creating similar gadget to test cumin (jeera), coriander (dhaniya) and pepper.

Bhamra, who labored in the agriculture sector soon after graduating from IIT-Kharagpur ahead of signing up for IIM-C, states details science can be applied to solving problems in the agriculture sector, especially with regard to high-quality assessments. “Today, tens of millions of bucks are involved in the agriculture sector and high-quality plays a important function,” stated the AgriNext CEO.

Pesticide residue

Bhamra stated the largest challenge with regard to Indian agriculture right now is the existence of pesticide residue in excess to the optimum stage permitted. “Indian foods standards are not measuring up to the high-quality parameter of importing countries. Moreover, there is a great deal of adulteration far too,” he stated.

For example, crimson bricks powder existence has been observed in chilli, although the existence of cow dung has been observed in coriander. “These are foods safety issues. Often, people finish up paying ₹100 for a solution that is truly worth only ₹20 dependent on its high-quality,” he states.

On the other hand, India enjoys the gain of distinct agro-ecological zones and can “really do a lot far better than what it is doing now”. “We have not tapped our total probable. We have not even built a start out that can make us a world wide behemoth,” states Bhamra.

AgNext Technologies is striving to clear up the core challenge of have confidence in and transparency in the foods worth chain, specifically spices and is searching ahead to turning into a world wide player in the close to future, he included.