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Near Infrared Spectroscopy for Assessment of Fruit Quality

We are a multidisciplinary group exploring the uses of non-invasive technologies in agricultural production, principally in the sorting of fruit. We have a number of industrial alliances, notably with Colour Vision Systems (CVS) and Integrated Spectronics (IS), an electrical engineer, and a Lab view programmer. We also work closely with marketers and agronomists...all to bring you a better tasting fruit!

CVS is an Australian based company designing and manufacturing video based technology for the sorting of fruit on the basis of external attributes such as size, shape and blemishes. The company has expertise in electronics, mechanical engineering and neural network analysis (for blemish detection). The company is based in Bacchus Marsh, outside of Melbourne. IS is a Sydney based company producing spectrometers.

We have applied near-infrared spectroscopy to the sorting of fruit (e.g. peaches, nectarines and plums) at a pack house level, operating at a belt speed of up to 1 m/s (i.e. ca. 10 fruit per second). We have also developed a hand held unit, and we are exploring the development of other non-invasive assessment technologies.

For more information Contact:

Professor Kerry Walsh 
Centre for Plant & Water Science
CQUniversity
Rockhampton, Qld 4702

Phone: 07 4930 9707
Fax: 07 4930 6536
E-mail: k.walsh@cqu.edu.au