Development of a smart tool for avocado fruits (Persea americana) ripening evaluation, shelf-life management and waste reduction

Please join us on January 29th 2024 starting at 14:15.
No need to register - just show up in EBI017.
 

Pedro Xavier is our guest speaker.

Recent years have witnessed a significant increase in avocado consumption, yet this growth faces big challenges due to long distribution channels and unpredictable ripening behaviour, leading to considerable losses and waste. To mitigate this, novel methods are being explored, taking advantage of advancements in Computer Vision and Machine Learning to develop smart tools for monitoring and predicting the ripening stages of these fruits. This approach involved tracking the ripening process of Hass avocados, classified into a 5-stage Ripening Index, to build a photographic database, which was then used to train Convolutional Neural Network models. The accuracy of these models shows great promise in enhancing post-harvest handling and quality control of perishable goods, potentially transforming fruit distribution, and significantly reducing waste.