Hyderabad, May 2 -- Researchers at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) are introducing a transformative technology for crop testing, combining AI-driven models and pocket-size near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) devices. These portable sensors allow for quick evaluation of nutrition levels in the indigenous food grains right at the farmer's gate or in research fields.

Dr Jacqueline d'Arros Hughes, Director general of ICRISAT, foresees the tool as a catalyst for the production of nutrient-dense crops, both in breeding programs and in farmers' fields, and as a crucial element in the global fight against malnutrition.

"This technology is poised to expedite the breeding of nutrient-dense crops while ...