Agrifood

A smart manufacturing and supply chain platform has been developed, enabling seafood processors to automate and digitize their production, quality control, costing, traceability, cold chain, and inventory workflows using tablet computers, sensors, and IoT devices in real-time on the factory floor. This software is a “low-code” web app that can be easily configured for both simple and complex workflows, suitable for small or large production facilities, and adaptable to the wide variety of seafood processes, including live shellfish, fresh and frozen fish, smokehouses, and industrial-scale canneries. The workflow platform includes advanced modules for IoT hardware integration, artificial intelligence, advanced analytics and reporting, a wireless cold-chain sensor, a consumer tracing app, and computer vision for automated inspection. Generative AI is also integrated into the platform, allowing users to “talk to their data” and upload documents to train the large language model. The platform provides value to customers in three core areas: First, the software and AI reduce labor costs by making data collection, management, and reporting more efficient. Second, the software enables real-time process and inventory control, replacing outdated analog paper record-keeping. Third, the software reduces data errors and strengthens traceability, improving compliance with third-party certifications and food safety regulations. Additionally, it includes AI algorithms for yield prediction, anomaly detection, demand forecasting, and drain weight prediction in the fish canning sector.

The development of next-generation greenhouses in agriculture is driving a growing demand for innovative systems that can address both energy and food challenges simultaneously. Currently, agriculture heavily relies on fossil fuels, particularly heavy oil, as its primary energy source, new technologies must be explored to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, such as carbon dioxide. Ensuring a stable food supply is crucial for increasing self-sufficiency rates, but the installation of traditional silicon solar cells has presented challenges due to shading effects, leading to reduced crop yields. Consequently, the absence of suitable solar cell technology for greenhouses poses critical problems for both power generation and food supply. Under this situation, green-light wavelength-selective organic solar cells (OSCs) have been developed. In this system, transmitted blue and red light can be effectively used to promote plant growth, while absorbed green light can be effectively utilized as a source of electricity for greenhouses. In addition, near-infrared wavelength-selective OSCs have been developed, which can use the near-infrared light to generate electricity while lowering the temperature inside the greenhouses. This wavelength-selective OSCs can be installed on the entire roof of greenhouses due to the advantages of light weight, flexible, and large area. This technology enables efficient utilization of solar energy for both power generation and agriculture.

Root rot diseases in food crops are devastating diseases currently without solution. Examples of such diseases are the Basal Stem Rot in oil palms, Fusarium Wilt in bananas, and Phytophthora Root Rot in citrus.  While fungicides have in vitro efficacy, most do not possess phloem mobility and therefore cannot reach the roots to effect treatment. Thus, despite widespread usage of fungicides, root rot diseases are still inadequately treated or are not treated at all. This Nano Delivery Technology imparts phloem mobility to fungicides, allowing them to reach the roots from the application site to treat and protect the crops. The technology is designed as a ready-to-use adjuvant that works with commercialised fungicides. Growers can independently and safely nano encapsulate the fungicides with basic mixing equipment and a simple, one-step mixing process. This technology is patent-pending and ready to market.

With mounting concerns regarding the environmental and health impacts of conventional chemical pesticides, there is a noticeable shift towards biological alternatives. This trend is fueled by a global demand for sustainable agricultural practices and safer, more environmentally-friendly produce. However, a significant challenge persists: the comparatively lower efficacy of biological pesticides. This technology addresses the challenge of low efficacy in biological pesticides, often caused by environmental factors such as heat, UV exposure, and runoffs, especially prevalent in tropical regions. It utilises plant-derived, biodegradable materials to encapsulate the biological pesticides, protecting them from environmental factors, thereby extending their residual treatment effect and reducing usage volumes and re-application frequencies. 

Only 20% of actual coffee is extracted from beans to produce coffee in its beverage form, leaving the remaining 80% (six million tons annually) deemed as spent coffee grounds (SCG) to be disposed or used in landfills or as non-food product components to make fertilisers, furniture, deodorisers or skin care products. A technology was created to counteract SCG wastage and valorise it for human consumption. This particular invention comprises of methodologies to create two types of ingredients using leftover SCG - oil-grind and water-grind processed SCG. A simple, reproducible method of conching is employed to convert leftover SCG into smooth pastes, where specific conching parameters help refine the SCG to an acceptable particle size, eliminating grittiness in numerous valorised products similar to SCG. The product utilises common ingredients like oil and water to conche SCG with improved taste and textural properties. The shelf stability and nutritional composition (including caffeine) of the ingredients were also validated to ensure the food possessed good sensorial properties and are scale up ready. This technology increases SCG’s potential use as a versatile ingredient in different food applications. The technology provider is seeking off-takers from food manufacturers, food services industry, companies interested to valorise side streams to turn SCG into edible compounds.

Fast crop disease management is important to ensure sustainable production. Many tropical crops suffer from infectious diseases that spread and kill plantations. Previously, new land had to be allocated to replant crops in disease-free areas. This is now more challenging because land conversion implies deforestation. Thus, one way to improve the metrics of both production and sustainability is by testing for infection before moving the non-infectious material (i.e. in nurseries). However, as PCR testing in tropical countries is more challenging due to logistics and other factors, testing on-site would be a preferred option. This technology is a unique, portable, self-administered DNA detection kit to be used directly on-site to test for the DNA of the pathogen (virus, fungus etc.). Developed in Switzerland, the technology has already shown one use case for cocoa testing in West Africa and is shipped in the country without a cold chain.

This biotechnology pertains to a modular cloud-based bioprocessing system designed to streamline and enhance the cultivation and analysis of biological cultures. Addressing the complexities and constraints of traditional bioprocessing, this technology simplifies operations, making advanced bioprocessing tools accessible to a broader range of users. It has shown its versatility across various segments including educational institutions, research labs, biotech and bio-manufacturing companies and even within the food service industry, providing an efficient, flexible, affordable and scalable solution for growing biological cultures.

This technology aims to tackle the food waste problem in the Thai agricultural sector. Shrimp shell was selected since it constituted a large portion of all crustacean shell waste. Many tons of shrimp shells are discarded daily. However, they contain high amounts of protein, calcium, and umami compounds. Thus, they can be used to fortify food products.  Currently, the instant noodle market still has a limited number of healthy options. Therefore, there is a significant market opportunity to develop a low sodium and high protein instant noodle product.

Eggs are a widely popular protein source, however, egg production requires a significant amount of natural resources. Hence, this technology aims to substitute chicken eggs with plant-based alternatives, which would lead to a reduced environmental impact. Rice bran is the hard outer layer of rice, a byproduct of the rice milling process which is pressed for oil and then discarded. Using rice bran as a source of protein reduces waste and increases resource efficiency, making it a strong potential candidate as an alternative protein source to be produced in Thailand, which is the 6th largest rice producer according to the FAO. This product is high in protein (comparable to chicken eggs), which is hydrolyzed to increase bioavailability, and does not contain cholesterol and saturated fat. It is fit for health and fitness enthusiasts, vegetarians, flexitarians and people with an egg allergy.