Development of spectroscopic imaging technology for grain quality inspection

Fusarium fungi infestation causes Canadian grain producers a loss of almost $1 billion dollars per year. Fusarium fungi produce toxins, e.g., deoxynivalenol (DON) which cause toxic effects in animals and possibly humans. We will develop a portable hand-held hyperspectral imaging device to detect, in the field, Fusarium infestation in grains. We will also evaluate the applicability of spectroscopic Optical Coherence Tomography to accurately and quickly determine DON level in grains with high sensitivity (1 ppm to 10 ppm). Such accurate, fast, practical and sensitive spectroscopic imaging technology could be widely deployed on farms to help farmers store pathogen-free grains. The industrial partner, Channel Systems, is a vendor of hyperspectral imaging systems. The availability of a portable handheld hyperspectral imaging hardware, as well as novel grain quality inspection application, would increase the market share of the industrial partner. It will result in considerable economic benefits for the industrial partner and Canada

Faculty Supervisor:

Dr. Sherif Sherif

Student:

Fernando Saccon

Partner:

Channel Systems Inc.

Discipline:

Engineering - computer / electrical

Sector:

Agriculture

University:

University of Manitoba