In this project we are developing novel sensors to monitor food quality, safety, and authenticity throughout the food chain. Our current approaches include printable ink sensors for food packaging to detect gases produced by bacteria allowing timely data on food quality and ultimately reducing food waste. Other sensors used aim to monitor food in the processing environment including non-invasive real-time optical techniques of NIRS (Near Infrared Spectroscopy) and LIBS (Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy). Such approaches will allow current lab-based sample analysis to move on-line, providing significantly higher resolution of critical food attributes. The group is also working with data scientists and robotic engineers to facilitate automation of the various processing lines.
USYD investigators include: Dr Sina Naficy, Professor Fariba Dehghani, Professor PJ Cullen, Professor Branka Vucetic, Professor Yonghui Li