AI research helps banana industry in Costa Rica

13th June 2023

Updated: 18 hours ago



A professor at De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) is using research through Artificial Intelligence (AI) to boost banana production in Costa Rica which could help producers save wasted fruit.



Professor David Elizondo, PhD, Professor in Intelligent Transport Systems at DMU’s Department of Computer Technology, has developed a concept that uses AI to deliver cutting methods to reduce fruit waste by producers in the banana industry.

Professor Elizondo and his De Montfort Interdisciplinary Group in Intelligent TranSport (DIGITS) team of mostly volunteers, has developed the OPTIcut technology, which he hopes will soon be ready to be used commercially to help banana growers in South America and elsewhere to make huge savings.

“So far tests of OPTIcut in the field in Central America have shown a reduction in waste levels of between 5% and 10%,” Professor Elizondo said.

“There is a lot of wastage in the banana industry and this technology aims to address that. Bananas are packed in clusters which are limited by the length, width and number of fingers which determine their price. Producers have daily cutting strategies to fulfil specific supermarket orders.

More:
https://www.fdiforum.net/mag/production/ai-research-helps-banana-industry-in-costa-rica/