Adelaide-made AI is set to grade lentils and chickpeas at grain receival sites this harvest
Artificial intelligence is being put to work on more than dodgy promo posters, suspiciously polished emails and figuring out what to cook with half an onion and three sad carrots.
This harvest, AI will be commercially grading Australian lentils and chickpeas, with the technology expected to turn up at South Australian grain receival sites.
So, is AI coming for your job?
Well, if you spend harvest staring at lentils looking for defects, you might want to keep an eye on this one.
AI Grain Grading, What’s In It For Growers?
For growers, there’s a fair bit riding on getting the grade right. Each load is assessed for defects, contamination and quality, and the result helps determine what they’re paid.
Adelaide agtech company Cropify has developed Opal, which uses computer vision and machine learning to analyse grain samples in minutes, providing a consistent assessment and digital record of each load.
After its first commercial lentil harvest in 2025, Cropify has added chickpeas and expects to have up to 25 Opal units operating around Australia this harvest, including units at SA receival sites.
Cropify CEO and co-founder Anna Falkiner said taking some of the subjectivity out of grading was important for growers.
“The grade it receives determines its value, so sellers need confidence that every assessment is accurate, consistent and objective,” she said.
Grain Trade Australia’s Trading Standards Committee has now endorsed the technology as suitable for commercial consideration across the grain supply chain.
So, Is AI Taking Jobs?
Grain graders don’t need to start updating their resumes just yet.
The idea is faster, repeatable grading when harvest is flat out and trucks are rolling through receival sites.
“Harvest moves incredibly quickly; delivery times and truck turn around efficiency are as important to us as they are to our grower clients,” Export Grading Group Australia Head of Trading Todd Krahe said.
“Cropify gives us fast, repeatable assessments that give us and our growers confidence of a fair and objective outcome when it comes to lentil grading.”
Designed and manufactured in Adelaide, Cropify is already expanding across Australia, with more crops in development.
AI might not be driving the chaser bin yet, but it’s officially on the job for harvest.
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