The National Agricultural Products Quality Management Service has decided to join forces with the private sector to conduct research on analytical techniques for evaluating the quality of fruits and vegetables using artificial intelligence (AI).
On the 26th, the Test and Research Institute of the National Agricultural Products Quality Management Service announced that it had signed a memorandum of understanding on the 25th with Aopam for joint research on analytical techniques for quality factors of fruits and vegetables based on AI image-sensing technology.
Cho Kyunggyu, director of the Testing and Research Institute at the National Agricultural Products Quality Management Service (left), and Kwak Hojae, CEO of Aofarm, pose for a commemorative photo after signing a memorandum of understanding for joint research on the 25th. Photo by National Agricultural Products Quality Management Service
Quality factors are elements that can identify external characteristics of agricultural products, such as color, shape, and appearance, as well as internal characteristics such as sugar content, acidity, firmness, and defects and morphology, which are decisive elements in grading.
The Test and Research Institute is a national specialized institution that carries out research and development to scientifically support the quality control and safety of agricultural products. Its work includes improving standard specifications for agricultural products, testing milling yields of government rice, developing analytical methods for hazardous substances in agricultural products and cultivation environments, developing methods to determine the origin of agricultural products, standard analytical methods for feed, and analytical methods for food components.
Aopam develops and supplies AI-based agricultural product sorting systems that can be used at Agricultural Products Processing Centers (APC). It is a specialized startup that is continuously engaged in research and development to identify external and internal quality factors.
Under this agreement, the Test and Research Institute will provide samples for standard-specification measurement and conduct comparative analysis of grading measurement results. Aopam will carry out various grading measurements using AI functions, build a database (DB) of quality factors, host research-related symposia and research presentations, provide training and guidance for researchers, and promote information exchange and other cooperative exchanges.
Jo Kyunggyu, Director of the Test and Research Institute of the National Agricultural Products Quality Management Service, said, "We will do our utmost to quickly and accurately identify the quality factors of agricultural products preferred by consumers and to ensure that they can be continuously managed through database building."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
