Innovative research is revolutionizing the way we assess the quality of grains such as corn and sorghum. Scientists from Embrapa and Spectral Solutions have managed to combine the analytical technique of Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIR) in a portable device with the mathematical model of multivariate calibration to identify and quantify different components in grain samples. This new method is capable of determining the chemical composition of foods essential to human and animal health quickly, accurately, at low cost and without destroying the material being evaluated. The study is published in Journal of Food Composition and Analysis.
According to Maria Lúcia Simeone, a researcher at Embrapa Milho e Sorgo (MG) and leader of this project, NIR (Near-Infrared Spectroscopy) is now recognized as a powerful tool for quantitative and qualitative analyses of chemical and physical parameters. “When interacting with matter, it generates a characteristic spectrum, similar to a molecular fingerprint. This spectrum contains detailed information about the chemical composition of the sample,” she explains.
On the other hand, it is classified as a secondary technique, as it depends on a mathematical model that correlates the spectral data with results obtained by conventional analytical methods (reference methods). “This is where multivariate calibration comes in, which allows the data obtained by NIR light to be processed,” adds Simeone.
In this new practice, researchers used portable NIR spectroscopy equipment to analyze a large number of corn and sorghum samples. The spectra of the milled samples were then subjected to a complex statistical analysis known as chemometrics.
This analysis relates the spectral characteristics of the samples to the reference values obtained by conventional analytical methods. “The models produced were incorporated into Spectral Software to allow the evaluation of new samples to be monitored directly on the screen of a notebook or cell phone,” says the researcher.
According to her, this new approach with portable NIR brings many benefits. One of them is speed. “NIR spectroscopy analysis is much faster than traditional methods, allowing real-time assessment of grain quality,” she highlights.
Accuracy also stands out. Multivariate calibration ensures high accuracy in determining chemical composition, with results comparable to reference methods.
Another advantage is that it is non-destructive. The technique does not damage the sample, allowing subsequent analyses. Furthermore, the equipment is portable, allowing the analysis of grains directly in the ground sample, facilitating quality control at different stages of the production chain.
“With all this, we have a better cost-benefit ratio. The reduction in analysis time and the elimination of the need for chemical reagents make the technique more economical and sustainable,” the researcher points out.
“Portable NIR spectroscopy and multivariate calibration represent a significant advance in the field of food analysis. They have the potential to transform the way we assess grain quality, opening up new perspectives for precision agriculture, quality control and food safety,” says Simeone.
The research reports several benefits for the food industry and consumers, including improved product quality. “The rapid and accurate assessment of the chemical composition of grains allows us to identify and reject low-quality batches, ensuring safer and more nutritious products,” he adds.
Optimizing production processes is also an advantage. The technique can be used to monitor the quality of raw materials, improve production processes and ensure the consistency of final products.
“The automation of analyses and the reduction in time contribute to the reduction of production costs and the increase in traceability, since technology can be used to track the origin and quality of grains throughout the entire production chain, increasing consumer confidence”, highlights the researcher.
Some bottlenecks observed in operations after grain harvesting can also be minimized with the application of portable NIR spectroscopy and multivariate calibration in the grain, animal protein and biofuel chains that receive and process these products.
“Reducing analysis time while maintaining precision is a great advantage, especially during peak harvest times, when harvesting operations are quick and grain delivery to industries and storage units has to follow the same dynamic to avoid reducing fluidity and creating queues, with consequent harm to grain quality,” says Embrapa researcher Marco Aurélio Guerra Pimentel.
Even in the post-harvest stages, the technique can help reduce losses and maintain the quality of stored grains. “In addition to the results related to the chemical composition of the grains, the new practice can identify the presence of insects, which have their larval stage inside the grains, which makes visual identification difficult and requires a time-consuming analysis to identify the infestation. With portable NIR spectroscopy and multivariate calibration, we are able to identify infested batches quickly and accurately,” Pimentel emphasizes.
Another detail emphasized by the researcher is that monitoring the quality of grains during storage is also very important to meet the quality standards demanded by industries and internal and external consumers.
“The use of portable equipment gives operators the flexibility to assess in real time the quality of the product they are buying, selling or that is being processed, ensuring quality and nutritional levels for human and animal consumption,” says Pimentel.
MicroNIR is now available on the market. It is a portable NIR device, weighing just 200 grams and operated via smartphones (both Android and iOS), which analyzes grains in two seconds with precision. “The partnership with Embrapa was key to the use of our equipment in the grain and animal nutrition sector,” says Felipe de Aquino, founder of Spectral Solutions.
“Embrapa is a world reference in agricultural research and its team of experts contributed to the analytical quality we deliver with this solution,” he adds.
Aquino notes that, in addition to corn and sorghum, MicroNIR can receive several other calibrations. Spectral Solutions has partnerships with other Embrapa centers to develop applications with different agricultural crops.
This technology will be presented during the 34th edition of the National Corn and Sorghum Congress. The event will take place from September 9 to 12 at the Arnaud Rodrigues Convention Center in Palmas, the capital of Tocantins. The event is being promoted and held by the Brazilian Corn and Sorghum Association (ABMS) and organized by Embrapa.
This year, two of the company's research centers are involved, Embrapa Pesca e Aquicultura (TO) and Embrapa Milho e Sorgo.
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