October 13, 2009

Technology developed by Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists that automatically scans poultry carcasses for contamination has been successfully tested in a commercial poultry plant.

ARS researchers have improved the hyperspectral imaging system so that it can detect small amounts of fecal contamination. Hyperspectral imaging is a technique that combines digital imaging with spectroscopy, creating individual wavelengths of light that pinpoint contaminants.

The system was developed through a research agreement with Stork Food Systems, a manufacturer of poultry-processing equipment in Gainesville, Georgia. Carcasses were imaged after evisceration but before washing, at a rate of 150 birds per minute. The system test-ran for several days without hardware or software problems and demonstrated its feasibility, according to ARS scientist Bosoon Park.

Using the same hyperspectral imaging technology but at different wavelengths, the ARS scientists in Beltsville developed an on-line imaging system to differentiate systemically diseased poultry carcasses from wholesome ones.

ARS and its industry partner are now merging the fecal-detection and diseased-carcass-detection systems onto a common platform that includes a line-scan hyperspectral imaging camera, lighting, and operating and detection software.

Merging the two systems will aid in commercialisation by creating one interchangeable imaging system that can be installed in different locations of the processing line to solve two separate and significant processing problems.

Combining the two systems will also allow processors to more easily integrate such a system into their operations. The team plans to have a new prototype tested by the end of 2009.

In addition, the researchers also developed and implemented a new image-processing method to identify and remove false-positive readings.