Project description
Digitising food quality control to prevent waste
Half of all fruit and vegetables produced every year never get eaten. In fact, fruit and vegetables have the highest wastage rates of any food type. There is a way to reverse this trend. The EU-funded ImpactVision project will conduct a feasibility study on a new hyperspectral imaging technology for the food supply chain. Designed for food processors, manufacturers, distributors and retailers, this technology can be used to improve food quality, generate consistent products and reduce waste. For instance, it can assess the freshness of fish, the ripeness of avocados or the presence of foreign objects immediately and non-invasively. Specifically, the imaging technology is able to capture real-time food quality data – information that the human eye cannot see.
Objective
ImpactVision is a machine learning company, applying advanced imaging technology to food supply chains in order to improve food quality, generate consistent products and reduce waste. Our software provides insights about the quality of foods and is aimed at food processors, manufacturers, distributors and retailers. For example, our system is able to determine the freshness of fish, the ripeness of avocados or the presence of foreign objects rapidly, non-invasively and at production grade speeds.
Hyperspectral imaging technology captures information our eyes cannot, in other parts of the electromagnetic spectrum. Our goal is to provide objective, real-time food quality data to the 30,000+ food processing facilities across the USA and improve efficiency of the global food supply chain. Currently, a third of all food produced is wasted. To illustrate the environmental impact at scale, managing food waste sustainably could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by over 500 million tonnes - the equivalent of taking all the cars off the road in the European Union. By digitizing food quality control, we improve yields and prevent waste, whilst increasing food companies’ revenues, which is particularly prescient considering the industry has razor thin profit margins.
ImpactVision combines a hyperspectral sensor installed above a conveyor belt with software that analyzes images and provides real time insights about quality.
By pursuing the present feasibility study, the management team aims to improve its understanding of international market conditions and the associated risks that need to be considered as the company develops a deeper business plan for rolling out, and scaling up ImpactVision as a marketable innovative solution. SME Instrument Phase-1 and Phase-2 will be extremely beneficial in helping the company to accelerate development and market penetration of the solution in target segments, boosting the company’s growth to 94 employees and $109M revenues by 2024.
Fields of science
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsensorsoptical sensors
- engineering and technologyother engineering and technologiesfood technologyfood safety
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringinformation engineeringtelecommunicationsmobile phones
- natural scienceschemical sciencescatalysis
- natural sciencescomputer and information sciencesartificial intelligencemachine learning
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
SME-1 - SME instrument phase 1Coordinator
NG18 1BL MANSFIELD
United Kingdom
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.