As China enters a new stage of development, accelerating the high-quality development of the grain industry has become an urgent priority. The "High-Quality Grain Project," comprising the "China Good Grain and Oil" action plan, a post-harvest grain service system, and a grain quality inspection system, is a powerful measure taken in recent years to implement the rural revitalization strategy and the national food security strategy, and to deepen the structural reform of the agricultural supply side. With the implementation of the "High-Quality Grain Project" and the establishment of the post-harvest grain service system, tangible benefits have been brought to reducing grain losses in China.
According to estimates by the grain authorities, China loses more than 40 billion jin of grain annually due to insects, mold, rodents, and birds. This is mainly due to farmers' rudimentary storage facilities, insufficient drying capacity, and lack of technical guidance and services. The loss rate is around 8% . With the development of science and technology, sensor technology, which plays a greater role, is being applied to grain monitoring to help reduce losses.
As we all know, the development of sensors has solved many problems for people. With the advancement of intelligent development, intelligent sensors have gradually become popular in the market and are beginning to be used in various industries. So, do you know which sensor technologies are used in grain monitoring to reduce losses?
First, there are temperature sensors, which are sensors that can sense temperature and convert it into a usable output signal. Temperature sensors are one of the earliest developed and most widely used types of sensors. Their market share far exceeds that of other sensors. People have been using temperature for measurement since the early 17th century. To address issues such as grain temperature monitoring, China began implementing a digital grain condition monitoring and control system in 2000 , deploying single-bus temperature sensors at a certain density to help grain warehouses achieve real-time digital temperature monitoring.
Furthermore, the integrated temperature and moisture sensor addresses the limitations of previous humidity detection methods, which relied on temperature sensors and other methods. Humidity measurements could only be obtained from a limited number of temperature monitoring points, limiting the widespread use of moisture detection. However, with advancements in science and technology, a Chinese company has developed an integrated temperature and moisture sensor to address the shortcomings of grain condition monitoring. This sensor effectively measures moisture only when mold appears, hindering preventative measures and real-time monitoring. The sensor is sealed, along with the two electrodes connected to it, within a sealed fixture to measure grain moisture. Using this technology, the condition of stored grain can be monitored in real-time, allowing for targeted interventions to address any issues.
The people are the foundation of the nation, and food is the foundation of the people; food security concerns everyone. Ensuring national food security is an eternal issue. Coupled with the impact of this year's special events, food security is even more vulnerable. Reducing food loss and waste is of paramount importance, and related sensors can help in this effort.
