AI in Food Processing: What Are the Perks?
The food industry has always been slower compared to other sectors in adopting modern technologies. But, spurred by innovative startups, artificial intelligence (AI) may prove to be the exception. For the most part, the sector is a very high volume, low margin industry. Identifying innovative and new ways to gain even the slightest increase in efficiency can make the difference between a facility turning a profit or a loss. Therefore, some of the largest food processing companies are turning to artificial Intelligence technologies in an attempt to improve numerous aspects of the process.
Food processing basically involves sorting a large quantity of feedstock and careful inspection of the final product. It frequently requires the constant maintenance of equipment, storage, and workspaces in very specific conditions. Advanced technologies like artificial intelligence can revolutionize the way these operations are carried out. Lets take a look at how artificial intelligence can revolutionize food processing:
Better sorting
Sorting is one of the most time-consuming processes for most food processing companies. Also, it is one of the most important processes. For instance, every orange, carrot, tomato, potato, apple, etc. is slightly different. A plant might need to sort millions of vegetables based on size, shape, and/or color. Earlier, a majority of the sorting had been done manually, but now, most food processing companies have embraced automation for the processes.
Furthermore, with the help of advanced technologies like AI that use cameras, Near Infra-Red (NIR) spectroscopy, x-rays, and lasers, it has become easier to measure and quickly analyze every aspect of the vegetable as it moves along. While older automatic sorting systems were just focused on sorting the bad from the good, machine learning and artificial intelligence created the capability to sort foods for their optimized use.