Uses of Near-infrared Spectroscopy in Agriculture

It’s not an exaggeration to say that SCiO’s Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) technology is ushering in a revolution in measurement, processes, and efficiency in modern agriculture. 

Handheld scanners like the SCiO Cup, SCiO Mini, and other SCiO devices that accurately measure the material composition of crops, grains, and more in real-time, and require no specialist training or knowledge to use, are dramatically changing what’s possible in agriculture businesses of all kinds. 

For example, a NIR moisture analyzer can be used as a corn moisture meter to identify the optimal time for a corn harvest, or an NIR scanner such as the SCiO Mini can be employed for protein content determination in cheesemaking or as part of a legume harvest. 

The Near-infrared spectrum is ideal for agriculture since plants don’t use it in photosynthesis or other functions, but at the same time, NIR penetrates deeper than other parts of the infrared spectrum. It’s perfect for identifying the components within an organic substance. SCiO’s devices ensure that only the right bands of light are measured, and that they are analyzed to provide accurate, reliable information about material composition 

Until fairly recently, NIR technology was only available as part of benchtop devices and needed to be used in laboratory conditions, operated by specialists. That meant delay, laboratory dependence, and expense. Now, SCiO’s portable, handheld, intuitive devices have brought sophisticated NIR analysis to every part of agriculture. 

How is NIRS relevant to Agriculture?

The way that NIRS is relevant to agriculture all comes down to the importance of knowing the material composition of the agricultural products on which your business – and the industry – depends. 

Laboratory analysis was so time-consuming, cumbersome, and expensive that its use in agriculture could have been improved. Taking a sample was destructive and invasive, transporting samples to the lab took time, and so did analyzing the sample for results. Too often, the results themselves then had to be manually updated or uploaded somewhere, leading to data silos.

All of this meant that agriculture businesses only took a small number of samples, meaning that they were only able to achieve a restricted level of accuracy. For example, if you’re thinking about silage moisture content, all corn growers know that the moisture content of the corn in one field may be different from the moisture content of the crops in the field right next to it. What growers really need is the ability to take multiple measurements of multiple samples quickly, easily, and non-destructively. 

In other words, it’s not only about the technology of NIRS – near-infrared spectroscopy – itself but also about how companies can use it on the ground and in the field. Science is essential, but so is the ability to apply it routinely, robustly, and reliably.

NIR Analysis and its Applications in Agriculture

One of the most exciting aspects of SCiO’s NIR scanners is that it bring the potential of instant, accurate NIR analysis to illuminate any and every part of the production and processing cycle. Whether it’s thinking about determining the maturity or quality of organic materials or leveraging that information for sorting, grading, pricing, storing, or predictability, the data provided by SCiO’s devices is not only relevant but empowers data-driven decisions.

SCiO in Action: How NIR Helps in Determining Harvest Time

One of the great challenges in agriculture has always been determining the optimal time to harvest crops, whether it’s grains, fruits, vegetables, etc. Farmers once relied largely on taste, feel and intuition honed over years of experience.

Laboratory analysis of materials helped add a more objective standard to the process, but due to the limitations discussed above, the impact of this innovation remained limited. Something that’s often overlooked is the way that these in-built limitations meant that laboratory analysis was not suited to the scale that characterizes many modern agricultural operations. 

When your operations include many fields, perhaps in multiple regions and possibly even in geographies across the globe, having a small number of samples from any single location is never going to give you the accuracy you need to make truly informed decisions about harvest at scale. 

Moreover, when it comes to harvesting, time is of the essence. Days of delay, while a sample is taken, transported, analyzed, and then the results are shared with the relevant levels of the organization, may represent the crucial days of optimal harvest time. 

SCiO’s devices are so easy to use that any worker in any field can use them. It really is as simple as pointing and scanning. The results are instant, so that for instance you’ll know the protein content determination or silage moisture content within seconds. The data is synced automatically via the cloud to all relevant existing systems so that it can be acted upon right away. 

In other words, when SCiO’s scans show that it’s time to harvest, the harvest can start right away.

NIR for Grain Composition: SCiO Cup or SCiO Mini

SCiO’s devices have changed what’s possible in terms of understanding grain composition at any stage in growth, harvest, or processing. 

The use of NIR technology and devices such as NIR moisture analyzers is the most obvious in many contexts because moisture is so vital in assessing the maturity and quality of crops. In a corn harvest, for example, it’s the level of moisture that determines how sturdy or brittle the plants are, and identifying lack of moisture early on can help avoid toppling or stalk lodging on the one hand or spoilage and mold on the other. So using the SCiO Cup effectively as a corn moisture meter makes sense. 

That said, it’s important to highlight that there are other valuable applications of SCiO’s NIR technology as well. Some examples include:

• There are companies that use SCiO’s devices as an integral part of their breeding program for new kinds of seeds and crops, measuring the protein and fat levels as part of their research. 
• Companies that grow or handle multiple different types of the same kind of crop need to be able to distinguish between the types with precision. For instance, a specialty soybean crop is importantly distinct from a regular soybean crop, even though they look the same to the naked eye. SCiO’s devices instantly show which is which, because the material composition is different. 
• Companies that work with wheat at diverse points in the growing, harvesting, and processing cycle often care a lot about the level of protein in the wheat, which changes its cost and best use. SCiO’s devices measure this in moments. 
• When sorting and storing grains, knowing the level of protein is as important as moisture. 

Other uses of SCiO’s NIR Spectroscopy in Agriculture

When a solution is truly revolutionary, it has wide implications and applications in many spheres of industry, and that is true of the way that SCiO democratizes the use of NIR spectroscopy in agriculture. Some of the ways that customers use SCiO’s devices to illuminate the material components of their products include:

• Making cheesemaking into a science as well as an art, by enabling instant, non-invasive, accurate scans during any part of the cheesemaking process. SCiO’s devices bring the knowledge of the levels of fat, moisture, and protein in any batch of cheese to your fingertips. 
• Measuring levels of animal nutrition and need so that dairymen and other businesses can avoid waste and optimize efficiency even when weather events or climate conditions affect the composition of feed. 
• Determining the sweetness of berries to make data-driven decisions about the quality of the fruit and the optimal time of harvest. 
• Working towards sustainability goals by using precise knowledge about the material composition of crops to calculate what is needed to enable their flourishing and growth, avoiding excess or waste in various ways. 
• Making it possible to track trends and impact in many areas over time. Since data is gathered automatically in existing systems, available to employees anywhere in the world, patterns over time and geography can be identified and future predictions and plans adapted on the basis of this information. 

SCiO brings NIR spectroscopy to agriculture in a way that isn’t just innovative and exciting, but also impactful and effective. Using SCiO’s devices, agriculture businesses can take their organizations to new levels of efficiency, productivity, and precision.