Laser-Based Nopal De-Spining
Revolutionizing nopal processing with precision laser technology. Our innovative solution addresses the biggest bottleneck in the cactus supply chain.
The Nopal
The nopal cactus has been recognized for its nutritional content and adaptability to various environmental conditions, making it an asset in sustainable agricultural practices. A sustainability superhero, declared by the United Nations as a food of the future, cactuses are drought resistant, can improve soil health and grow fast in many types of soils and extreme climate conditions.
The Problem
The cactus has a problem, and it's its thorns. They are difficult to remove, making its handling and processing very challenging, and they must be taken off before human or animal consumption. The current de-spining methods are inefficient, labor-intensive, and often harm the cactus pads, affecting their quality and shelf life. This explains why de-spining is considered the biggest bottleneck in the cactus supply chain.
The Solution
Onteko’s technology addresses the despining issues by using a laser to selectively remove spines without causing damage to the cactus pads.
Furthermore, Onteko is developing the integration of of a deep learning based computer vision model technologies to enhance the accuracy of spine detection and guide the laser, increasing the efficiency and scalability of the process.
Benefits
-
Preservation the integrity of the cactus pads.
-
Efficient de-spining of the cactus, reducing the loss of usable volume from 20 % to zero.
-
Extension of the product's shelf life to several weeks, enabling the creation of functional supply chains.
-
Facilitating safe handling during harvesting, transportation, and consumption.
How it Works?
The Laser
We are using a fiber laser, much more robust, compact and reliable than traditional lasers. To optimize the de-spining process, we are using a set of specific laser parameters such as wavelength, pulse energy, pulse duration, pulse shape and repetition rate to achieve the optimal removing rate and quality.
Machine Vission
For spine detection, are developing deep learning based machine vision algorithms.
This will allow us to directly target the spine without the need for a laser scan of the
entire surface, resulting in a drastic Increase in productivity.
Scalability
Our design focuses on creating a system that's not just efficient, but also scalable. We envision our technology being easily adopted across various scales of operation, from local farms to expansive agri-businesses.
Q&A Section
​
-
Question: Why is the nopal cactus an important food?
Answer: The nopal cactus has been recognized for its nutritional content and adaptability to various environmental conditions, making it an asset in sustainable agricultural practices. A sustainability superhero, declared by the United Nations as a food of the future, cactuses are drought-resistant, can improve soil health, and because they reach maturity, can be harvested faster than many other crops.
-
Why is manually de-spining the nopal problematic?
Answer: The current de-spining methods are inefficient, labor-intensive, and often harm the cactus pads, affecting their quality and shelf life. It is estimated that during the current de-spining process, more than 20% of the products usable volume is lost. What's even worse is that part of the skin is removed, which causes irreversible damage that leads to the degradation of the product within just a few hours. This explains why de-spining is considered the biggest bottleneck in the cactus supply chain.
​
-
What advantage does de-spining with a laser have?
Answer: The laser removes spines without causing damage to the cactus pads. The laser works on the principle of selective absorption, where the spines and the cactus pads have different optical properties. This selective targeting ensures the spines are vaporized without affecting the rest of the plant. Investigations indicate that the technology is promising in terms of maintaining the integrity of the cactus pads and extending their shelf life.
​
-
Can de-spining with a laser affect the product for human consumption?
Answer: No. The laser produces light, which, due to its spectral composition, is similar to sunlight. It's not ionizing radiation. It can't make modifications that affect the quality of the product as food.
​
-
Is it dangerous to use the laser?
Answer: Not if the protective measures according to the instruction manual are followed. Specifically, protective goggles are required.
​
-
Is it profitable to use a laser for de-spining?
Answer: The laser machine replaces the work of several operators, eliminates the loss of useful volume, and opens the doors to the large-scale commercialization of Nopal. We estimate that the return on investment time is less than 1 year.
​
-
Where can I buy it?
Answer: The product is being developed by Onteko and will be released in 2024. If you are interested, we recommend making any inquiries in the contact section.
References and useful Links
​