Optical sorting of (seed) potatoes: Efficient, smart and Cost-effective!

Optical sorting of (seed) potatoes is becoming increasingly popular among farmers and packaging companies due to its benefits in efficiency, sorting quality, and cost savings. Innovative systems such as the Optica CS and Q from Tolsma-Grisnich have only increased growers' enthusiasm. These machines combine advanced imaging technology with user-friendly software, allowing businesses to make significant progress. In this article, we discuss the key benefits of optical sorting: capacity, sorting quality, and labor savings.

Sorting Capacity

Optical sorting helps farmers significantly reduce labor and maintenance costs. With the use of the Optica Q, the need for external workers to sort potatoes has almost disappeared. Where companies previously worked with external staff on the sorting belt, one person can now control the entire sorting process.

Antoine Eising, a farmer in Lelystad, the Netherlands:

"Previously I needed several people at the belt, but thanks to the Optica Q, that's a thing of the past: “External workers for sorting are no longer necessary." On an annual basis, we sort about 5.000 tons of potatoes, and the investment in optical sorting machines has made this process not only more efficient but also cheaper."

Size sorting and quality sorting are performed by two different machines. The Optica CS is the electronic size sorter, while the Optica Q reads for quality. This separation is useful because size sorting and quality sorting do not always take place simultaneously in the season. This way, a batch does not always need to go through both machines if it needs to be rechecked. An Optica Q can also be used in combination with, for example, a traditional shake sorting machine, combining the high sorting capacity with accurate optical reading.

Tolsma-Grisnich Optical Potato Sorter Optica Q

Improved Reading Quality

Another major advantage of optical sorting is the high and consistent reading quality. The Optica Q uses advanced imaging techniques and AI models to analyze potatoes at pixel level. Each potato is photographed from five different angles, allowing defects such as rhizoctonia, scab, damage, and clumps to be detected.

Eising emphasizes the importance of this accuracy:

"The machine recognizes various defects and sorts the potatoes into three categories: clumps, feed, and good product. This allows us to guarantee a consistent product quality."

"This approach ensures that there is almost no work left in the reading room: One person still checks the sorting work afterward, and that's enough. We can now provide constant sorting work throughout the day."

An additional benefit is the flexibility of the system. The settings can be easily adjusted to the specific requirements of different varieties or batches. The setup assistant, a unique tool of the Optica Q, for example, provides insight into the last two thousand photos of abnormal potatoes. This allows users to quickly and independently adjust the system's sensitivity. If there are situations where the system needs to learn, this can be done based on the photos taken on your own farm. This process is called deep learning, and it makes the machine smarter over time.

Labor Savings

One of the most immediate benefits of optical sorting are the enormous labor savings. Traditional sorting techniques often require several people to perform both the sorting and the reading tasks. With the Optica Q, one person is sufficient to monitor the sorting work.

This was a decisive factor for Eising when purchasing the Optica Q.

Antoine Eising:

"Finding good staff is becoming increasingly difficult, especially in the winter. Thanks to the Optica Q, sorting is now less labor-intensive."

The Optica Q can save up to 3 people in the reading room. Even when a batch of 28/35 with many clumps needs to be read, it can sort this at a capacity of up to ten tons per hour.

Conclusion

Optical sorting of seed potatoes offers significant benefits in terms of cost savings, quality improvement, and labor savings. Innovative systems like the Optica CS and Q use advanced technologies that not only increase efficiency but also guarantee uniform product quality.

For farmers sorting large quantities of potatoes, this is a valuable investment.

Antoine Eising:

"If you're sorting enough tons, optical sorting is the future. It increases your capacity, and you need fewer people."

Although the initial investment can be significant, the benefits far outweigh the costs. Companies save not only on labor but also on time and energy. Additionally, the technology offers opportunities for quality improvement and further innovation and expansion, such as in sorting other crops like onions.