Your next serve of lentils could be the product of AI

The fine art of sorting lentils is a painstaking task that requires tweezers, a magnifying glass, specialized training, serious attention to detail and up to 45 minutes of time.

But an Australian start-up is using artificial intelligence to speed up the process, which it claims can take just six minutes.

The company, called Cropify, is also among the first companies in the world to commercialize grain sorting technology and plans to set its sights on bigger tasks in the future: chickpeas, broad beans and international expansion.

The company is part of a growing agri-food technology industry in Australia, which AusTrade estimates attracts $800 million in investment each year.

Fifth-generation farmer Anna Falkiner founded the business with husband Andrew Hannon in 2019, before generative AI hit the headlines.

Grain grading is a constant challenge for farmers, he said, resulting in the length of time it takes to complete and the staff required to complete it.

“We are using a combination of machine learning and hardware to find a solution to a long-standing problem for the grain industry,” Ms Falkiner told AAP. he said.

“This way you’re not dependent on a lot of ordinary employees who haven’t had as much training, and you know you’re always getting the same quality of notes, meaning they’re objective, fair and accurate.”

Graders typically examine 200 grams of each packet of grain, looking for signs of damage, mold, loose coating, insect infestation, contrasting colors and foreign seeds.

Each grain is given a rating based on this evaluation, which determines its price.

Ms Falkiner said the Adelaide-based company was initially trying to create AI software to evaluate grains but realized hardware would be needed to ensure the process remained consistent.

The resulting product, Cropify Opal, resembles a printer but includes patented trays to load grains into the machine, two high-powered cameras to capture them, and uploads images to the cloud to be processed by AI software.

He said the tests revealed an unexpected problem: AI-powered machines often made harsher decisions than humans.

“Obviously, we don’t want our product to be so durable that it replaces the rating system currently in place,” he said.

“We decided to compare ourselves to people who are professional, full-time, grain sorters.”

While the company chose red lentils as its initial target, the machine will be upgraded to grade desi chickpeas early next year, followed by broad beans, sorghum and other grains, Ms. Falkiner said.

The company raised $2 million from venture capital partners in 2024 and plans to launch another capital raise shortly.