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AgroFresh Expands FreshCloud with New AI Partnerships

AgroFresh Solutions, Inc., a global leader in post-harvest freshness solutions, is taking a monumental step in enhancing its FreshCloud™ digital ecosystem through two new strategic partnerships with Aerobotics and Neolithics. This collaboration aims to elevate the quality and supply chain management in the fresh produce industry by providing advanced technological insights and analytics.

The integration of Aerobotics, known for its expertise in orchard and packhouse analysis, alongside Neolithics, a pioneer in AI-driven quality inspection, positions the FreshCloud platform as the most comprehensive digital solution for quality and supply chain management.

Real-Time Data Integration and Decision Making

By amalgamating real-time data from various sources, FreshCloud is set to significantly enhance digital quality metrics at every stage of the fresh produce supply chain. This strategic integration expands AgroFresh’s existing collaborations with sensor innovators such as Rubens Technologies, Strella, and Escavox. With this growing network of tools, producers, packers, and retailers can make quicker, data-driven decisions that help in reducing waste, improving quality, and boosting profit potential.

Bradford Warner, Head of Digital Solutions at AgroFresh, emphasized the company’s commitment to creating a holistic and best-connected digital platform for fresh products. He stated, "By integrating partners like Aerobotics and Neolithics, FreshCloud connects orchard intelligence with warehouse intelligence like never before."

Accurate Yield Data through Aerobotics' TrueFruit®

A significant aspect of the partnership with Aerobotics is the incorporation of its TrueFruit® modules into FreshCloud™, which deliver AI-driven analysis for orchards and packhouses. Through computer vision and AI analysis of smartphone images, Aerobotics provides producers with the ability to accurately and objectively assess the size, color, and quality of fruits. This partnership will:

• - Enhance harvest planning through precise size forecasts, defect recognition, and color sorting models.
• - Facilitate standard measurements from orchard to packhouse, monitoring quality effectively.
• - Centralize yield data for informed decision-making that could potentially increase marketable yields by 1 to 5% and yield clients over ten times their investment.

James Paterson, the CEO of Aerobotics, expressed excitement about the partnership, noting that it will allow more producers and packers to leverage TrueFruit®, thus facilitating a seamless transition from orchards to post-harvest phases.

Next-Generation Quality Assurance with Neolithics

The incorporation of Neolithics in FreshCloud equips packers with technology that transforms quality assurance into a source of security rather than a risk factor. Neolithics’ AI-based imaging enables high-throughput inspections, capable of analyzing up to one kilogram of berries per minute and exceeding six tons per hour for avocados. This inspection process evaluates:

• - Key parameters such as Brix, acidity, and dry matter content while identifying hidden internal and surface defects.
• - All this is accomplished without damaging any fruits, boasting over 90% accuracy.

Kate Murray, CEO of Neolithics, highlighted the company's goal of protecting clients' products through high-volume, non-destructive quality checks, thereby reducing waste and ensuring greater transparency from field to shelf.

Conclusion

AgroFresh, in collaboration with Aerobotics and Neolithics, is paving the way for digital quality innovations in the fresh produce sector. Their combined efforts aim to reduce food losses and enhance the overall quality of products delivered from farms to consumers. With more than 40 years of innovation, AgroFresh continues to tackle supply chain challenges comprehensively, offering integrated storage, packing, and digital solutions. To learn more about AgroFresh and its initiatives, please visit www.agrofresh.com.

For more information on Aerobotics, explore aerobotics.com, and learn about Neolithics at www.neolithics.ai.