Newton Fund - GrainCare
Lead Participant:
NQUIRINGMINDS LIMITED
Abstract
GrainCare: improving rice harvest yields for Indian rural farmers, using low cost sensors and analytics
The GrainCare project is a partnership between India and the UK and is funded by the Newton Fund to solve the problem of grain spoilage and the resultant loss of food and economic value from rice being harvested and stored incorrectly. India produces about 263.3 million tons of grain each year. The post-harvest losses in India amount to 12-16 million metric tons, an amount that the World Bank stipulates could feed one-third of India’s poor.
The key partners are nquiringminds Ltd (artificial intelligence data technology company) UK Industry partner and lead from the UK who together with Brunel Innovation Centre are building the technology in the UK, and the Indian Institute of Food Processing Technology (IIFPT) and Marketing Yard (distribution in India of grain).
The aim of the GrainCare project is to apply modern low-cost sensing technology and advanced analytics to improve the storage of rice so that the amount fit for consumption is increased and the value of the crop is enhanced. The aim of the project is to apply these technologies to the drying and storage of grain.
The GrainCare project aligns with the intended scope of the Newton challenge of “Post-harvest handling and processing, including minimal processing and processes to control ripening and post-harvest spoilage and damage.”
The project will consist of the following:
a. Low cost, low power robust sensors that can sample gain during drying or during storage
b. Accurately checking the moisture levels of the grain to prevent decay of the stored crop
c. Making the technology open with clear interfaces to allow sensing and control systems to be applied widely
d. Advanced learning control systems that can optimise crop yields, moisture levels for storage, energy use and labour time
e. Simple user interfaces that will encourage understanding and that will be taken up by the Indian farmers.
Graincare is all about using technology to help small farmers store their rice optimally to increase the available food fit for market. The key envisaged impacts in India are to reduce hunger (UN Sustainable Development Goal No.2 Zero Hunger) through the development of responsible grain storage made possible by sensor technology to alert problems with dampness and disease. By working with different bodies in the production chain of rice, and specifically with groups of small farmers we are tackling the real problems in technology adoption and deployment. The project aims to use affordable low-cost devices and to make sure that they are robust to stand the weather and conditions of rice farming whilst meeting the need of affordability.
The GrainCare innovation is all about developing a solution to identify which bags of grain might be about to spoil and alerting the farmer before this happens. The Innovation is using hardware specially developed to withstand the heat of grain dryers and the chemicals sprayed onto rice. It also must be simple to use and not costly. The data received and transmitted needs to work in remote environments and must have a power source that doesn’t fail. The sensors need to be low cost and the mobile apps must give the right information for complete monitoring and for corrective measures to be taken. The cutting-edge technology uses secure data sharing to cut down on post-harvest spoilage with the goal of maintaining the quality, quantity and price of the stored and dried grain to give maximum return to the farmers. The project is envisaged to hit goal 12 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals by encouraging responsible production and by improving the economic outcomes for the poorest producers of rice in India.
The project will deliver on all the objectives of an R&I Bridge: expertise and knowledge in advanced IOT sensing technology and machine learning will be transferred to India from the UK. And a deep understanding of the technical and commercial complexity of using technology in a poorer developing country will be transferred from Indian to the UK.
The GrainCare project is a partnership between India and the UK and is funded by the Newton Fund to solve the problem of grain spoilage and the resultant loss of food and economic value from rice being harvested and stored incorrectly. India produces about 263.3 million tons of grain each year. The post-harvest losses in India amount to 12-16 million metric tons, an amount that the World Bank stipulates could feed one-third of India’s poor.
The key partners are nquiringminds Ltd (artificial intelligence data technology company) UK Industry partner and lead from the UK who together with Brunel Innovation Centre are building the technology in the UK, and the Indian Institute of Food Processing Technology (IIFPT) and Marketing Yard (distribution in India of grain).
The aim of the GrainCare project is to apply modern low-cost sensing technology and advanced analytics to improve the storage of rice so that the amount fit for consumption is increased and the value of the crop is enhanced. The aim of the project is to apply these technologies to the drying and storage of grain.
The GrainCare project aligns with the intended scope of the Newton challenge of “Post-harvest handling and processing, including minimal processing and processes to control ripening and post-harvest spoilage and damage.”
The project will consist of the following:
a. Low cost, low power robust sensors that can sample gain during drying or during storage
b. Accurately checking the moisture levels of the grain to prevent decay of the stored crop
c. Making the technology open with clear interfaces to allow sensing and control systems to be applied widely
d. Advanced learning control systems that can optimise crop yields, moisture levels for storage, energy use and labour time
e. Simple user interfaces that will encourage understanding and that will be taken up by the Indian farmers.
Graincare is all about using technology to help small farmers store their rice optimally to increase the available food fit for market. The key envisaged impacts in India are to reduce hunger (UN Sustainable Development Goal No.2 Zero Hunger) through the development of responsible grain storage made possible by sensor technology to alert problems with dampness and disease. By working with different bodies in the production chain of rice, and specifically with groups of small farmers we are tackling the real problems in technology adoption and deployment. The project aims to use affordable low-cost devices and to make sure that they are robust to stand the weather and conditions of rice farming whilst meeting the need of affordability.
The GrainCare innovation is all about developing a solution to identify which bags of grain might be about to spoil and alerting the farmer before this happens. The Innovation is using hardware specially developed to withstand the heat of grain dryers and the chemicals sprayed onto rice. It also must be simple to use and not costly. The data received and transmitted needs to work in remote environments and must have a power source that doesn’t fail. The sensors need to be low cost and the mobile apps must give the right information for complete monitoring and for corrective measures to be taken. The cutting-edge technology uses secure data sharing to cut down on post-harvest spoilage with the goal of maintaining the quality, quantity and price of the stored and dried grain to give maximum return to the farmers. The project is envisaged to hit goal 12 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals by encouraging responsible production and by improving the economic outcomes for the poorest producers of rice in India.
The project will deliver on all the objectives of an R&I Bridge: expertise and knowledge in advanced IOT sensing technology and machine learning will be transferred to India from the UK. And a deep understanding of the technical and commercial complexity of using technology in a poorer developing country will be transferred from Indian to the UK.
Lead Participant | Project Cost | Grant Offer |
|---|---|---|
| NQUIRINGMINDS LIMITED | £630,000 | £ 441,000 |
Participant |
||
| INNOVATE UK | ||
| BRUNEL UNIVERSITY LONDON | £269,852 | £ 269,852 |
People |
ORCID iD |
| Nicholas Allott (Project Manager) |