Hyperspectral imaging allows for the monitoring and identification of product to ensure safety and quality control standards are met. By detecting detailed spectral information, analysis of hyperspectral data provides precise chemical composition and identification of materials for the evaluation of product quality and contaminant detection without hands-on intervention. With hyperspectral imaging, end-users gain deep insights that improve efficiency, consistency, and overall operational performance.
The mechanism with which hyperspectral cameras work is based on the absorption of light at particular wavelengths by a material composition. Every material absorbs particular wavelengths while reflecting others. For example an object that we visually describe as blue absorbs red and green wavelengths of light. This absorption works at the molecular level. If the atoms in the molecules of a material are spaced such that a specific wavelength of light excites the molecule, the energy at that wavelength is absorbed by the excitation. That wavelength of light is not reflected. Every material therefore has a reflected spectral signature. A hyperspectral camera has the ability to detect hundreds of narrow wavelength bands and so can detect when specific wavelengths are absorbed and therefore with analysis detect the signature of a material. Hyperspectral camera work not only in the visible wavelength bands but also in the NIR, SWIR, MWIR and LWIR bands which gives them the ability to detect a very broad range of materials.
Hyperspectral Imaging for Food Safety
Hyperspectral Detects Hidden Contaminants in Food |
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Difficult to see contaminants are a constant in food production. In minced meat production lines for example, non-hyperspectral inspection systems including RGB cameras, X-ray, and metal detectors often miss contaminants because they rely on limited colour information, density or conductivity rather than molecular composition.
Specim hyperspectral cameras supplied by Adept Turnkey, including the FX10 (400–1000 nm) and FX17 (900–1700 nm), SX25 (960–2500 nm) provide a real solution to these issues. Each of these cameras are suited to detecting materials whose reflection contain spectral features in reach of their respective bands.
The Specim FX10 for example is very well suited to precise colour detection and variation as well as detecting some features invisible to the human eye.
The Specim FX17 operates in the Near Infrared (NIR) and it detects longer wavelengths that a human cannot see. An example of its use is its ability to detect bruises under the skin of fruit. It detects a bruise by detecting the higher concentration of moisture in the bruise using the water absorption spectral feature and its longer wavelengths enable it to penetrate the skin deep enough to find bruising which is otherwise completely invisible to the human eye.
The Specim SX25 has Shortwave Infrared (SWIR) detection and an example of its use is in the detection of soil in contaminated food where spectral features around and above 2200nm are important. The speed of all of these cameras enable them pick up subtle quality variations in real time, even at full production speeds.
A further enhancement exclusively available from and developed by Adept Turnkey, is the FX Fusion system, which enables the datasets from two cameras to be merged and spatially correlated so that every pixel in an image contains spectra from both cameras. For example the FX10/FX17 Fusion system offers data from 400nm to 1700nm for every pixel in the image. The different resolution and lens distortion in each of the two cameras is corrected for by FX Fusion allowing for pixel precise data. The extended spectral range of FX Fusion offers end-users a more complete solution. Click here to find out more about the FX Fusion.
This approach to contaminant identification strengthens food safety systems, reduces waste, and improves process efficiency by delivering reliable, data-driven insights that operators can act on immediately.
Hyperspectral imaging can accurately classify, and grade fruits, vegetables, nuts, cereals and other agricultural products based on colour, ripeness, size, and subtle surface defects that RGB cameras cannot identify. With Specim cameras, and Adept Turnkey’s FX Fusion solution, food producers can automate grading directly on conveyors, ensuring consistent quality, improved yields, and reduction of manual inspection requirements.
Bruise and Internal Damage Detection |
Hyperspectral imaging can detect bruising or internal disorders in produce such as apples, mangoes, pears, grapes, and potatoes before they become visible. By sensing spectral signatures of damaged tissue, Specim cameras and the FX Fusion allows early removal of compromised products, improving shelf life and overall quality.
Early microbial growth and mould contamination can be detected through subtle spectral indicators such as pigment or chemical changes. Specim cameras enable fast and non-invasive screening for early signs of spoilage, helping producers maintain safety and reduce product losses.
Specim cameras and the FX Fusion by Adept Turnkey employs hyperspectral imaging to inspect packaging seals and detect contamination in seal areas or between film layers. By imaging through or across packaging materials, this technology ensures complete seal integrity and prevents potential contamination or leakage.
Internal Defect and Foreign Body Detection in Grains and Seeds |
Adept Turnkey’s FX Fusion and Specim’s camera solutions can screen cereals, nuts, and seeds for foreign objects, stones, or insect-damaged kernels based on spectral differences.
Specim Cameras and the Adept Turnkey’s FX Fusion enables high-speed, accurate inspection at line-scan speeds, supporting consistent quality in grain and seed processing.
In research and breeding applications, hyperspectral imaging produces detailed maps showing variations in ripeness, sugar content, and firmness proxies. Whether using Adept Turnkey’s FX Fusion or a single camera solution from Specim, researchers can study post-harvest treatments non-destructively, accelerating innovation in plant and food science.
Every production batch carries a distinct spectral profile. Hyperspectral imaging captures these unique fingerprints, allowing analysis of batch uniformity and traceability back to specific processing lines or raw material sources.
This data-driven insight improves transparency, quality consistency, and process optimisation.
Hyperspectral Imaging in Agriculture and Vegetation |
The same hyperspectral technology is also driving progress in plant science. By capturing hundreds of narrow spectral bands across visible and near-infrared ranges, it provides detailed information about plant physiology, stress, and chemical composition.
Researchers use hyperspectral imaging to monitor characteristics such as chlorophyll content, moisture levels, and pigment distribution without damaging the plants. Combined with artificial intelligence and analytics, it enables high-throughput, non-invasive assessment of crops, supporting faster, more informed decision-making in sustainable agriculture.
Hyperspectral imaging is used to monitor the health of crops by analysing how plants reflect light across different wavelengths. It can detect small changes in vegetation that indicate stress, nutrient deficiencies, disease or lack of water. Early detection allows for timely intervention and helps reduce crop losses and improve yield.
Diseases often cause specific changes in the spectral signatures of plants that are not visible to the naked eye. Hyperspectral imaging can identify these changes, allowing early detection and prompt management to prevent further damage.
Hyperspectral imaging is an important tool in precision agriculture. It provides detailed information that helps the agricultural sector apply water, fertilisers and pesticides more accurately. This supports decisions on planting, irrigation and harvesting, reduces resource waste and improves crop productivity.
Hyperspectral Imaging in food safety and plant research |
In conclusion hyperspectral imaging provides precision that goes beyond what the human eye can see, whether it is used to improve food safety or advance plant research. Specim hyperspectral cameras, and Adept Turnkey’s FX Fusion camera system enable precise, real-time inspection in both research and industrial applications by combining wide spectral coverage, high resolution, and prompt acquisition speeds.
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