Student unveils software that asses fruit quality and cuts fruit losses by 45pc

University of Nairobi post-graduate student David Muriuki Karibe demonstrates how his software analyses fruit quality at the recently ended Nairobi International Trade Fair. [PHOTO: MISHECK MWANGI/STANDARD]

Nairobi; Kenya: A University of Nairobi (UON) post-graduate student has come up with a fruit quality assessing software that uses remote sensing to ascertain the extent of ripeness in tomatoes, oranges, mangoes and other fruits. The software can be used to grade different fruits for their freshness and price them accordingly.

“A blue light from a light emitting diode (LED) is shone through a fruit. In response, the fruit emits some light which is analysed for fruit quality. This response comes from the skin of the fruit and has a direct relationship to the freshness of the fruit,” stated David Muriuki Karibe, a Master of Science (Msc) physics student at the University of Nairobi.