Project description and overview:

Hone Global is developing a range of digital hand-held lab devices that collect complex light signals using a patented spectrometer (sensor array) from any food sample placed inside it. These light signals are then decoded using a proprietary industry leading machine learning software to deliver lab test results on food products, in real-time, to the user’s mobile phone.

Ten prototype products have been produced and are currently being trialled by CSIRO on their trial farm at Narrabri, NSW and by grower members of AMPS Agribusiness in Tamworth, NSW. The testing instruments have been calibrated over three seasons against gold standard laboratory data and validated for use in field conditions.

This project is to take this improved device to production and manufacture 100 market-ready devices for sale to the broadacre cropping market through established market connections. This involves establishing a component supply chain, and an assembly process in Australia and supporting software product release processes.

This is a transformational project for the food industry as it will digitise grain quality across the grain supply chain from its source on-farm, to domestic mills and ports. Continued calibration of the products will eventually allow the marketability of new high value products such as high protein or low GI grain within a digitised supply chain. This will eventually enable the development of products such as high protein pasta and gluten free breads.

Manufacturing and distribution of the Hone whole-of-farm analyser in Australia and overseas will allow the farmer, agronomist and grain trader to measure the protein quality of grains, such as wheat and barley, and oil crops, such as canola, on-site in real-time.

This improved data visibility will empower farmers to make better decisions on-farm, increasing profits through data-based harvest management and enabling self-management of storage and marketing of grain on-farm. Ultimately this will enable more profitable farms to produce higher quality food products.

The device allows traceability of food quality and assurance of safety and origin allowing the creation of higher grade, higher value products. The testing capability is applicable beyond grain. There are also applications to expand the digitisation of supply chain quality to oils and wine plus many other food and beverage supply chains covering many of the areas identified in the Food & Beverage National Manufacturing Priority Roadmap.