Emissions

Why the fresh produce industry is ripe for AI-powered carbon reduction

Wed, 19 Apr 2023 15:27:17 GMT

Once a lofty aspiration for only the most forward-thinking companies, carbon reduction is now an urgent priority for the produce industry. And while fruit and vegetables may not have the largest carbon footprint on the production side, the industry does contribute emissions through transportation and unacceptably high rates of waste.

Naturally, Earth Day is a good time to reflect on the progress that has been made and the work that needs to be done. Looking at 2023 and beyond, the outlook is challenging, but with promising developments that bode well for the future.

In particular, artificial intelligence holds the promise of optimizing supply chains, reducing waste and enabling the industry to effectively balance ever-increasing demand against the need to significantly reduce emissions.

Emissions all along the supply chain: Why food production is at the forefront of carbon reduction

Production emissions for fruit and vegetables are lower than other foods, such as meat. But transportation accounts for around 20% of the industry’s emissions as a whole, much of which comes from the need for refrigeration.

Temperature control throughout the supply chain poses a difficult challenge for the fresh produce industry. Refrigeration relies on high-emission vehicles and infrastructure, but it’s very difficult to escape this necessity. Failure to maintain appropriate temperatures for different types of fruits and vegetables leads to spoliation or premature ripening, adding to the estimated $900 billion worth of produce that ends up on the waste pile annually.

Meeting ever-increasing demand without ramping up carbon emissions is a formidable challenge, and there are indications that the industry at large is taking it seriously.

Emitting less while doing more: How the industry is adapting

With more produce on the move, growers, wholesalers and retailers face growing pressure to mitigate emissions at each step in the value chain. This is driving a number of healthy changes to the industry at large.

The increasing uptake of sustainable packaging by major retailers is an encouraging sign, as is the integration of sustainable technologies in production and transportation. All of this contributes to a decrease in the overall carbon footprint of fresh produce from farm to table.

Perhaps even more importantly, we are seeing a renewed emphasis on local and regional food trade. Reducing reliance on imports and strengthening local and regional food systems will go a long way towards reducing emissions related to shipping and air transport.

Taken together, these trends are moving the produce industry towards a greener, more sustainable future. But with around 20% of food waste sitting at the grower segment, there is an urgent need to support producers to reduce loss even long before packaging and transport take place.

Automated quality control: The role of AI in reducing waste

Energy-efficient transport and recycled packaging, while essential, are not enough to make a dent in the 20% to 40% of fruit and vegetables that never even reach consumers. Producers in particular need effective inventory management systems and real-time monitoring of produce.

This is the need that AI and computer vision are now well placed to meet. By automating the quality control process, these technologies can accurately evaluate produce at each touchpoint along the supply chain and separate what is not fit for consumption. These technologies replace the guesswork and inaccuracy of manual quality control with real-time, data-driven decision-making, reducing the likelihood of overproduction, quality mismatch and subsequent waste.

Carbon reduction: Where environmental imperatives and customer demand meet

Reducing the carbon footprint of the fruit and vegetable industry is about more than environmental compliance; it’s crucial for the industry’s future viability. Consumers are becoming more aware of the environmental impact of the produce they buy and consume. The demand for sustainable solutions is therefore as much “bottom up” as it is “top down.”

To stay competitive — and stay on track with sustainability goals — all parties involved in the fresh produce supply chain need to pull together. It’s only through close cooperation and transparency that the industry as a whole can continue to meet growing demand without also growing an already hefty carbon footprint. We’re confident that the latest advances in AI are the just-in-time solution that’s needed to build a more fruitful and less wasteful future for fresh produce.

Elad Mardix is the CEO and co-founder of Clarifruit , an AI-powered quality control (QC) software for the fresh produce industry. Prior to co-founding Clarifruit in 2018, he had a 12-year career working for J.P. Morgan in both New York and Hong Kong, where he ran J.P. Morgan’s Asia Technology banking franchise. As a senior tech banker, he partnered with tech entrepreneurs. Mardix holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and accounting from Bar-Ilan University in Israel and an MBA from the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business.

California Company Says the Future of Tractors Is Electric

Wed, 10 Nov 2021 15:00:55 GMT

Mani Iyer thinks it’s the right time and he’s targeting the right market segment with the right products to bring battery powered tractors to the forefront as a solution.

“This is the perfect time to launch a truly renewable, electric powered tractor, which is repowered with solar energy,” he says. “These tractors have a lot of advantages, and they perform much better than diesel.”

Iyer joined Solectrac as CEO in the middle of 2021. He’s spent nearly 30 years in the ag machinery market including nine years as president and CEO of Mahindra North America. Solectrac is a California-based company focusing on battery powered tractors–specifically focusing on the 70-hp and below market.

What’s the best power ranges for battery-powered tractors?

So far the company has sold 50 plus tractors—mostly into applications for vineyards, specialty crops and rural lifestyle customers.

“We have a sweet spot with three products in the lineup: 30 hp, 40 and 70 hp,” Iyer says.

He says the company has introduced first generation products in each category, however, each is going through upgrades to expand their use with attachments and accessories. Standard loaders and backhoes can be mounted on the tractors, and the three-point hitch allows for all standard implements to be used. Additionally, the 40 hp will be upgraded to 50 hp and additional versions of current products are on the drawing board.

“Customers have been extremely excited—and I appreciate their patience in our roll out,” Iyer says. “Tesla has proven how a product and a company can scale. And thanks to Tesla for showing us the way to make people believe in these products. Rural lifestyle customers are very close to automotive customers—so there’s been a lot to learn from.”

What are the greatest advantages for battery-powered tractors?

Iyer says the coined term around Solectrac’s performance is “Quiet Power,” as the electric-powered motors can provide up to 75 hp equivalent of diesel power with only 65 decibels—which is about the same sound range as a normal conversation. The Lithium iron phosphate batteries last three to eight hours, depending on the application, and the tractors can be ordered with an optional exchangeable battery pack.

“There’s no noise. We aren’t generating any pollutants. And you have full torque at zero RPM,” Iyer says. “You have power and torque across the power scale. Operators are getting close to 90% power at the wheels.”

He says customers in applications where noise levels are sensitive—vineyards, municipal maintenance, equestrians etc—users are boasting about the benefits of being able to operate at the low noise levels.

“For rural lifestyle customers, riding the tractor is like therapy. They love spending time on their machine and on their land. And with our tractors, they can really enjoy what they are doing without generating loud engine noises or breathe pollutants,” Iyer says.

Iyer says in addition to the environmental and power benefits, the Solectrac tractors are assembled in the U.S. with a t percentage of their components made domestically and batteries packs created in their factory. In February 2022, the company is planning to move to a facility five times bigger than its current factory.

“We want to deliver tractors with strong performance, high efficiency, low operating cost, better for the environment, charged renewably, and are quiet and safe,” he says.

How much do battery-powered tractors cost?

Prices for the Solectrac tractors can be expected to be 15% to 20% more than a diesel model, but Iyer says the goal is to provide a return on the cost difference in less than two years, and operators save money over time not buying diesel & oil and they can use their existing attachments.

As for a future with higher horsepower models, Iyer says it’s in the making, understanding how big of a battery pack is required for high horsepower applications and performance.

“But for chicken farms, horse farms, hog farms, using this tractor for their purposes and their property—there is no reason why this shouldn’t perform for them,” he says. “Failure is an option, but fear is not an option for us. We will keep going and innovate daily on these solutions for a cleaner, healthier and safer world.”

In June 2021 Solectrac was acquired by Ideanomics, which is a company that focuses on renewable energy and electric vehicles. Solectrac was founded by Steve Heckeroth in 2012.

California Approves Plan to 'Move State Away From Oil' by 2035

Wed, 05 Oct 2022 18:44:12 GMT

Noting an urgent need to address climate change while cutting back on air pollution, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) voted Thursday to require all new cars and light trucks sold by 2035 to be zero-emission vehicles.

Lauren Sanchez, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s climate advisor, called it “a huge day not only for California but the entire world.” The mission, she said: “Move the state away from oil.”

Liane Randolph, chairwoman of the CARB, said the rule is one of the state’s most important efforts yet to clean the air and will lead to a 50% reduction in pollution from cars and light trucks by 2040.

The EV Scoop

Congress gave California permission to set its own rules under the Federal Air Quality Act of 1966 when the state was combatting the toxic yellow-brown smog that hung over Los Angeles.

The Trump administration in 2019 revoked California’s authority to regulate its own air quality, but the Biden administration restored that authority earlier this year.

Already, 15 states , including Colorado and Minnesota, as well as states on the Northeast and West Coast, followed California’s previous zero-emission vehicle regulations.

New York, Oregon, Washington state and Rhode Island officials they plan to adopt California’s rule through their own rule-making process, while New Jersey and Maryland officials said they were reviewing California’s decision. Public comment in Washington state on a similar plan will start Sept. 7.

More than 16% of new cars sold in California in 2022 were zero-emissions vehicles, the state said , up from 12.41% in 2021 and 7.78% in 2020.

What’s Next for America and Electric Vehicles

The rules won’t be immediate and will go into effect in 2026. The mandate forces automakers to phase out gasoline and diesel cars, sport utility vehicles, minivans and pickup trucks in favor of cleaner versions powered by batteries or fuel cells. If automakers do not comply, they could be charged $20,000 per noncomplying car, CARB said.

What if consumers don’t go along? One option: People could still buy internal combustion cars from another state without the mandate. And it will still be legal to buy and sell used fossil-fuel cars and light trucks.

Under the new rules, 35% of new cars must be zero emission by 2026, 51% by 2028, 68% by 2030, and 100% by 2035. The quotas also would allow 20% of zero-emission cars sold to be plug-in hybrids.

The mandate doesn’t cover all of highway transportation: Heavy trucks that burn diesel fuel will have 10 extra years before they are banned. A proposed zero-emission mandate for heavy trucks wouldn’t hit 100% until 2045.

Also, up to 20% of a carmaker’s sales can be plug-in hybrids, which have both electric motors and gas engines, and still count as zero-emission, as long as the minimum battery range is 50 miles or more.

As part of the California mandate, the state will require specific levels of warranty protection for EV batteries and related components.

Notable Hurdles for EV’s

One of them is that an electric car still costs far more than an equivalent gasoline car. According to Kelley Blue Book, the average EV sold for $66,000 in July, compared with $48,000 for the average international-combustion vehicle.

CARB officials pointed to studies that show savings in fuel and maintenance can make an EV a better financial deal over time, and that prices would continue to drop.

Charging is another hurdle. While homeowners can install their own EV charger in a garage, most people who live in apartment buildings and condos don’t have that option. California plans to require multifamily housing landlords to provide some way to charge electric cars.

John Bozzella, president and CEO of the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, which represents major automakers, said California’s mandate would be “extremely challenging” for automakers to meet.

“Whether or not these requirements are realistic or achievable is directly linked to external factors like inflation, charging and fuel infrastructure, supply chains, labor, critical mineral availability and pricing, and the ongoing semiconductor shortage,” Bozzella said in a statement. “These are complex, intertwined and global issues.”

State officials said the rule is critical to meeting to state’s goal to transition to 100% renewable energy by 2045, and that resulting emissions reductions would lead to fewer cardiopulmonary deaths and emergency visits for asthma and other illnesses.

Ag Industry Responds

While environmental groups were largely very complimentary, some said the CARB rule didn’t go far enough. The National Corn Growers Assn. (NCGA) released the following statement:

“As NCGA told regulators during the rulemaking process, constraining the vision of a zero-emission future prevents the state from tapping into the immediate and affordable environmental solutions that come from replacing more gasoline with low-carbon and low-cost ethanol, in both current and new vehicles, including new plug-in hybrids,” NCGA wrote. “Ethanol is on a path to net zero emissions, and NCGA will continue to work with and urge California to use all the tools in its toolbox as it addresses climate change and cuts harmful tailpipe emissions. As recent University of California, Riverside, vehicle testing for CARB found, higher ethanol blends, like E15, significantly reduced most criteria air pollutants compared to standard 10% ethanol blends.”