Activities

2.1. NIRS sensor monitoring of agri-food and forestry processes and products for process optimisation, quality control and traceability

This action is based on the application of fast, non-destructive and environmentally friendly technologies based on near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). Specific and versatile sensors will be used to generate massive data on the characteristics of an agri-food/forestry product/process at different stages of its production cycle. The necessary information will be generated to be digitised and to facilitate quality control, traceability and decision making in real time in situ.

It will apply to the following products:

• Agri-food: table grapes, small red fruits, olives and tomatoes for industry. 
• Forestry: cork 

These tests will be carried out in situ in the following production sectors:

• Fruit and vegetable processing plants to assess the state of maturity of the fruit and make decisions on shelf life.
• Olive oil mills to improve oil quality
• Tomato industry for the evaluation of quality parameters.
• Cork industry for the evaluation and control of cork quality parameters.

Several tasks are proposed for the development of the proposal:

• Development of reliable predictive models using NIRS sensors that can be applied to quality control and traceability in agri-food products of interest for the EUROACE area.
• Digitisation of the massive data generated in a common space to enable access to information in real time and speed up decision-making.
• Advice on the use of specific prototypes to provide solutions to specific problems in the agri-food and forestry sector.
• Dissemination of the potential results of the technology and its advantages for all target groups.

Lead: UEVORA

Participants: CICYTEX, UEX, CTAEX, COOPERATIVAS, CONFAGRI

 

 

The following workshops have been held as part of this initiative:

• Workshop on the application of NIRs technologies in table grapes Ferreira do Alentejo, 21 October 2024
• Training workshop ‘Development of predictive models using NIRS technology’ Évora, 18-19 November 2024

 

In addition, the work carried out within the scope of this action has been disseminated in

• Feria Internacional del Corcho (FICOR) San Vicente de Alcántara (Badajoz), 17-19 April 2024
• 22ª Conferencia Internacional sobre Espectroscopia de Infrarrojo Cercano – NIR2025 Roma, 8-12 June 2025