Moisture, high temperatures and insects drastically impact on grain quality, costing growers and bulk handlers significant sums in terms of grain losses, pest control and labour.
A new sensor system, which promises to provide real-time grain quality information looks set to be launched in Australia, with news technology company TeleSense has appointed previous GrainCorp chief development officer Marcus Kennedy to its advisory board in an effort to fast-tract the establishment of an Australian business group.
TeleSense founder and CEO Naeem Zafar said the appointment Kennedy brings broad experience across the grain value chain and will allow the Silicon Valley based company to move into Australia.
"Now that TeleSense is successfully deployed on-site with over 400 customers in the US and EU, Australia represents the next strategic market for us to target," he said.
"We have raised money from investors, we have built the product and have about 2800 sensors deployed in the world.
"Now is the time to enter the Australian market more formerly, we are in the process of setting up a legal entity in Australia."
Mr Zafar said TeleSense used wireless sensors combined with artificial intelligence to identify, notify and predict spoilage in grain.
"We measure temperature, moisture and certain gasses which can indicate spoilage, then we combine that with artificial intelligence to predict leading indicators," he said.
Mr Zafar said Australia was an attractive market because it was a sophisticated market in terms of grains research, grain quality and exports.
"We are starting collaborations with universities in Australia and we intend to set up a research institute into grain spoilage," he said.
"Several million tonnes of grain is lost every year, and if you look at the bigger picture, the world population is going to increase 28 per cent in the next 30 years, so you have to be smart about saving what we already produce."
Having come across TeleSense during his time at GrainCorp, Mr Kennedy said he was pleased to have a hands on role in establishing the Australian branch of the company.
"TeleSense is an exciting new tech company taking a refreshingly innovative approach to monitoring stored grains," he said.
"Australia represents a great opportunity, as more grain is being stored on farm there is an opportunity for TeleSense to help get better information about the quality of the grain in storage.
"We have a greater insect issue then many countries due to the nature of our climate, so temperature and moisture give rise to a lot of potential grain quality issues."
Mr Kennedy said going forward TeleSense had plans to release sensors for monitoring phosphine gasses in grain.
"Being able to measure the impact and effectiveness of any grain fumigation is important," he said.
"Our customers are interested in consolidating a number of functions onto one device."
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