The Government is backing a research programme to drive productivity and improve profits in the apple industry, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced at the Horticulture New Zealand Young Grower of the Year competition in Cromwell on Friday. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe project will develop hyperspectral imaging technology (light-based scanning that sees inside fruit without cutting into it) to understand what is going on under the skin of an apple, as it enters the packhouse and during storage,\u201d says Mr McClay. <\/p>\n
\u201cBetter information about internal defects and fruit quality could help exporters make earlier decisions about storage, packing and when to ship them out. That means more chance of fruit reaching markets in top condition with less waste.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Government is investing $1.84 million through the Primary Sector Growth Fund, with the project lead \u2013 Auckland agritech company Hectre \u2013 contributing the balance of the $4.6 million project over three years.
Hectre already collects sizing, colour, and quality data from billions of pieces of fruit each year. The new programme extends its research from surface characteristics to understand what is going on inside an apple, including maturity, starch content and firmness. That usually requires someone cutting into and sampling fruit, which is slow, destructive and imprecise. The new technology aims to scan fruit at commercial throughput speeds in the packhouse, giving operators real-time data.<\/p>\n
Mr McClay says this type of innovation is essential for the horticulture sector to grow. \u201cThe Government investment will help bring this technology to market sooner, giving our apple industry a competitive advantage and support stronger growth across the sector.\u201d
The programme aims to develop a proof-of-concept algorithm targeting at least 80 per cent detection accuracy by June 2027, and a packhouse prototype validated under commercial conditions by June 2028.
\u201cThe apple and pear industry contributes more than $1 billion to New Zealand’s economy each year and supports jobs and communities across our regions,\u201d says Mr McClay.
\u201cProjects like this demonstrate how smart investment in science, technology and innovation can improve productivity, strengthen export performance and create new opportunities for New Zealand agritech companies on the global stage.\u201d
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