Agritech project to lift apple productivity

The Government is backing a research programme to drive productivity and improve profits in the apple industry, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced at the Horticulture New Zealand Young Grower of the Year competition in Cromwell on Friday. “The project will develop hyperspectral imaging technology (light-based scanning that sees inside fruit without cutting into it) to understand what is going on under the skin of an apple, as it enters the packhouse and during storage,” says Mr McClay. “Better information about internal defects and fruit quality could help exporters make earlier decisions about storage, packing and when to ship them out. That means more chance of fruit reaching markets in top condition with less waste.” The Government is investing $1.84 million through the Primary Sector Growth Fund, with the project lead – Auckland agritech company Hectre – contributing the balance of the $4.6 million project over three years. Hectre already collects sizing, colour, and quality data from billions of pieces of fruit each year. The new programme extends its research from surface characteristics to understand what is going on inside an apple, including maturity, starch conten