Experts See Photonics as Key for Agriculture

November 23, 2007

CANANDAIGUA, NEW YORK — Agribusiness has problems and opportunities that photonics, optoelectronics and Microsystems-enabled technologies hold the key to solving.

That was the message at the 2007 International Photonics, Food & Agriculture Conference: Roadmap to Security and Production in the 21st Century, which was held last Friday at the Canandaigua Inn on the Lake. Nearly 120 people attended.

The session included speakers representing production, wholesale, distribution and retail sales who discussed industrial challenges ahead. Other speakers presented the problems. Topics included smart farming, monitoring pathogens and mitigating infectious diseases, and tracking products through the supply chain.

Speakers said optics and related studies play a role in many of these challenges.

"Optical monitoring in agriculture is quite active," said William Ivancic, research scientist for sensor systems for Ohio-based Battelle AgriFoods Ltd.

Jim Orvis, director of wine technology research and evelopment for Constellation Wines U.S., a division of Constellation Brands Inc., said technologies such as infrared light and spectroscopic tools are a vital part of the technology Constellation uses to measure grape quality, which ultimately leads to better wines. Spectroscopy is the interaction between radiation and matter.

"We continue to see newer and more efficient ways to measure grape quality," he said.

Canandaigua-based BiSen Technologies Inc., a startup housed at the Infotonics Technology Center Inc., is hoping to use microsensors in its applications.

Micheal Potter, chief science officer, said the company's first initiatives will address problems affecting the dairy industry and work on technologies that improve milk quality and increase its shelf life.

In addition to having agricultural applications, this technology is seen by BiSen as having uses for homeland security, particularly in securing the nation's drinking water supply, and several biomedical testing applications, he said.

Gary Stitch, president and CEO of Oxbo International Corp. in Byron, Genesee County, said his firm continues to work with partners, including the University of Arkansas, using technologies that will lead to new equipment for agricultural purposes.

The firm manufactures equipment for niche agriculture markets worldwide, including vegetable and fruit harvesting, vineyard and tree sprayers, and vineyard mechanization equipment.

Other local presenters included Birds Eye Foods Inc. and Lumetrics Inc.

The conference was presented by organizations including the Finger Lakes New Knowledge Fusion Project, the International Photonics Commercialization Alliance, Cornell University, the Infotonics Center and New York AgriDevelopment Corp.

Others involved in its production were Finger Lakes Wired; Jaeckle, Fleishmann & Mugel LLP; the National Science Foundation; Xerox Corp; Constellation; Finger Lakes Workforce Investment Board; the Javelin Group Inc.; Ontario County Economic Development Office; Rochester Regional Photonics Cluster; and FACTNY.

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By Andrea Deckert
Rochester Business Journal
Fri. November 23, 2007