Food adulteration is rampant in India as demand for agricultural produce is immensely high. While almost half of the country’s population is directly dependent on agriculture for sustenance, the sector generates on 20% of the national GDP. The gap in efficiency is mainly due to manual errors, which happen because of rudimentary and archaic agricultural practices. Implementation of advanced technologies is an infallible way to ensure higher productivity and efficiency.
A major advantage of using next-generation technology would be reduced dependency on water and fertilizers. This could be achieved using deep-technologies like Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Data Analytics, and the Internet of Things (IoT) in a practical manner for digitizing agricultural processes. Resultantly, there could be a reduction in food prices, leading to a balance in the supply and demand in the country.
Ashwin Bhadri, CEO of Equinox Labs, says. “While food testing laboratories are well-equipped with the latest technologies, the farm produce at source is sub-standard. Overuse of fertilizers for increased crop produce, adulteration for meeting demands and use of synthetic ingredients in industries is making food unsafe for mass consumption. Implementation of latest technologies could be a positive step in making food safer in India.”
In addition to the agricultural sector, agribusiness sectors must also deploy modern technologies at every step from farm to fork. This will ensure the quality of ingredients is maintained at every step right from procurement to the packaging, and eventually distribution of foodstuffs. Many agritech companies are leading the way in the right direction by adopting state-of-the-art technologies in the entire agricultural supply chain. Such technologies are well capable of analyzing multiple commodities rapidly, thereby building trust, and delivering transparency and high speed in operations. Technological advancements in agricultural and agribusiness sectors could reduce manual errors, and increase yields and contribution to India’s GDP.
Equinox Labs is an FSSAI-approved and NABL-accredited food, water, and air testing laboratory with more than 17 years of experience. It is a pioneer and leader in food safety auditing and has its presence throughout the country.