OneThird has received an Innovation Credit of 1 million euros from the Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland (RVO), the Netherlands Enterprise Agency. With the support of this funding, OneThird is developing a spectral imaging solution that allows full trays and crates to be scanned in one go during the quality control process. The scan assesses the internal quality of the produce and predicts its shelf life. The new technology is designed to fundamentally improve the quality control process in high-volume fresh produce distribution centres and is expected to be available in 2027.
Traditional methods in the supply chain are time-consuming and largely based on manual sampling, where only a limited number of units per batch are checked. This leads to unreliable quality assessments and unnecessary waste. OneThird has already demonstrated with its current spectral scanner that non-destructive measurement at fruit level delivers a proven improvement for growers, distributors and retailers. The Innovation Credit supports OneThird in taking the next step. A spectral imaging solution that scans and assesses a full crate with multiple punnets in just a few seconds. Via spectral imaging, parameters such as Brix, sugar content, and visual defects are measured, and the shelf life of the batch is predicted.
“We see a great need in the market for quality control on scale. Thanks in part to the Innovation Credit, we can now deliver a solution to this problem. While our current scanner is already a major improvement over traditional methods, spectral imaging is the next step. By scanning not one but many products simultaneously, we make the shift from sampling to full inspection possible. In an inline application, that means only the punnets that fail to meet specifications are rejected, not the entire load. We look forward to bringing this technology to market and helping to reduce food waste", says Marco Snikkers, Commercial & Product Strategy and Founder of OneThird.
The Innovation Credit from the RVO helps entrepreneurs to develop innovative ideas into market-ready products. This funding provides the space to push forward and take the step to market. With the support of the Innovation Credit, entrepreneurs work on technical innovations and contribute to the innovative strength of the Netherlands.
"With the Innovation Credit, we support companies that have the courage to lead the way and build innovative solutions that make a real impact. OneThird demonstrates that new technology not only contributes to a better world, but also comes with a strong business case", says Frank Herrman, Innovation Credit Advisor at RVO.
OneThird's solution will make it possible to inspect dozens of punnets simultaneously. In three seconds, the system scans a full crate with ten punnets, without manual interaction. Enabling a shift from sampling to representative batch inspection and making quality insights per shipment significantly more reliable.
In addition to reducing waste, the solution offers considerable labor savings through automation of the QC process. In the case of an inline application with 100% control, only the deviating punnets are rejected, not the entire load. This represents significant additional revenue for growers and a substantial reduction in the waste that currently occurs from farm to fork. Customer interviews and simulations show that imaging can reduce waste by an average of 20% per batch.
One of the most powerful applications of OneThird's new innovation is the improvement of shelf-life prediction. Where strawberries traditionally receive a fixed best-before date based on an average (for example, a standard five days after picking), OneThird knows that actual shelf life varies considerably, from three to thirteen days. The spectral imaging solution makes it possible to accurately determine, per punnet, how many days the fruit will remain fresh. Growers can therefore fine-tune their machine settings considerably, supermarkets no longer need to remove punnets from shelves prematurely, and waste throughout the supply chain is significantly reduced.
Moreover, this solution makes quality control fully objective, reproducible, and traceable. Growers and distributors can use this to make better-substantiated agreements with their buyers about the quality of delivered fruit. This strengthens the negotiating position with retailers and exporters and increases the acceptance rate of shipments.
The spectral imaging solution from OneThird is expected to be available in 2027 for strawberries and blueberries, with expansion to more fruits and vegetables. Interested? Please fill out the form below.