Agriculture & Food

These systems use light to sort food products with extreme accuracy. By detecting size, shape, color, and even internal defects, they can separate high-quality produce from damaged items at high speed. This improves efficiency, reduces waste, and ensures consistent product quality for consumers.

Tailored LED lighting enables crops to grow indoors under controlled conditions. By fine-tuning light spectrum and intensity, growers can shorten growth cycles, reduce energy use, and increase yields year-round — making vertical farming a sustainable solution for urban food supply.

Humidity directly affects freshness and shelf life. Optical humidity sensors provide real-time monitoring in storage or packaging, helping producers maintain ideal conditions, reduce spoilage, and deliver food that stays fresher for longer.

Spectral analysis makes it possible to check ripeness, freshness, and internal quality without damaging the product. Farmers can pick crops at just the right moment, processors can cut down on waste, and consumers enjoy food at its best.

Hyperspectral imaging reveals details invisible to the eye. From detecting nutrient stress in plants to monitoring soil composition, it provides farmers with actionable insights for precision agriculture — saving water, fertilizers, and resources while boosting yields.

Lasers offer a chemical-free way to manage weeds, reducing reliance on herbicides and protecting ecosystems. Combined with optical sensors, these systems can also monitor greenhouse gases and other environmental factors, supporting sustainable farming practices.

Advanced sensors can rapidly identify harmful substances in food, from pesticide residues to toxins or microbial contamination. This ensures food safety, supports compliance with regulations, and builds consumer trust.

Photonics-based inspection ensures packaging is sealed correctly, labels are accurate, and contents are intact. This avoids costly recalls, guarantees food safety, and ensures products reach consumers in perfect condition.

These miniaturized devices bring lab testing directly to the field or production line. Farmers and producers can perform instant checks for pathogens, allergens, or chemical residues — making quality control faster and more accessible.

Photonic integrated circuit (PIC) sensors operating in the mid-infrared range detect trace gases such as ethylene, carbon dioxide, or ammonia in storage environments. Monitoring these gases helps prevent spoilage, extend shelf life, and optimize storage conditions.