Comparing deep and classical Chemometrics: can CNN enhance the accuracy of EVOO adulteration detection from spectral data? Andrea Bandiera, Armando Camerlingo, Nico Sanna, Costantino Zazza, Alessandro Benelli, Riccardo Massantini, Roberto Moscetti Food Control, 2026 Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) has a high economic value and is therefore susceptible to adulteration with oils of lower quality and price. Spectroscopy, although not recognized as an official analysis methodology in EVOO, can be used in rapid screening to detect adulterants. Predictive models are usually developed with classical chemometrics, which require human knowledge in feature engineering. Deep chemometrics overcome human intervention by relying on neural networks. This study compares the use of PLS (Partial Least Squares) and CNN (Convolutional Neural Network) algorithm in combination with FT-NIR (1000-2500 nm) and Vis-NIR (380-900 nm) spectroscopy to predict EVOO adulteration using four different seed oils (peanut, maize, sunflower and soya). Adulterant concentrations at 0.5 % and 1.5 % were difficult to distinguish, as the subtle spectral changes were often masked by a low signal-to-noise ratio mainly due to high spectral similarity with the pure EVOO, instrumental noise, and intrinsic oil variability. The FT-NIR-based regressions generally showed minimal performance differences between PLS and CNN, regardless of the application of spectral pretreatment or data augmentation (RMSEP = 0.99-2.08 %), indicating that for this spectral range, the added complexity of CNN offered no significant advantage. Only the model obtained using CNN and FT-NIR for peanut adulteration was not able to converge. In contrast, the Vis-NIR models based on CNN significantly outperformed the PLS models, regardless of the use of pretreatment or data augmentation. Therefore, in the present study, deep chemometrics proved not to be a universal replacement for classical chemometrics, but rather a complementary tool that demonstrates its true value where the classical approach is less effective.
Predicting Forage Nutritional Quality With Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Alessandro Benelli, Riccardo Primi, Chiara Evangelista, Raffaello Spina, Marco Milanesi, Daniele Pietrucci, Bruno Ronchi, Umberto Bernabucci, Roberto Moscetti Journal of Sustainable Agriculture and Environment, 2025 The quality of green forage is crucial in pasture grazing, influencing both animal welfare, environmental sustainability, and production yield. Traditionally, the evaluation of forage composition requires time‐consuming and costly chemical analysis. In this context, near‐infrared spectroscopy (NIR) emerges as a promising alternative. This study adopted Fourier transform NIR (FT‐NIR) spectroscopy to predict nutritional characteristics of green forages. A total of 324 samples were collected from pastures in central Italy. Partial least squares (PLS) regression models were then developed, applying variable selection methods to improve PLS model accuracy. The interval PLS (iPLS) variable selection method gave the best results for fresh forage, while the genetic algorithm (GA) performed best for dried samples. The best results from the PLS models were obtained for dry matter (DM) and crude protein (CP). The DM model for fresh forage yielded an R2P of 0.96 and an RMSEP of 2.95 g 100 g−1 FW, while the CP model for dried forage yielded an R2P of 0.94 and an RMSEP of 1.84 g 100 g−1 DW, with a normalised root‐mean‐square error of cross‐validation (NRMSECV) of 3.8% and 5.6%, respectively. The results for the neutral detergent fibre (aNDF) were acceptable. NIR spectroscopy has proven to be a useful tool for assessing forage nutritional quality. Variable selection through iPLS also enabled the identification of “core” spectral regions for the development of compact and portable NIR sensors. Future research should further investigate sample preparation and moisture content effects and expand sampling to different geographical areas to enhance model robustness.
Bioimpedance-based prediction of dry matter content and potato varieties through supervised machine learning methods Ciro Allará, Roberto Moscetti, Giacomo Bedini, Manuela Ciocca, Alessandro Benelli, Paolo Lugli, Luisa Petti, Pietro Ibba Postharvest Biology and Technology, 2025 This study explored bioimpedance measurements and their derived parameters as potential indicators of dry matter content and potato variety. We investigated how bioimpedance correlates with the dry matter composition of potatoes,through destructive tests on tissue slices. Using the machine learning approach, we identified patterns and associations that can aid in predicting dry matter content, using regression models, and discriminating among potato varieties, focusing on classification models. In particular, four feature selection methods (correlation matrix, minimum-redundancy–maximum-relevance, neighborhood component analysis, and t-test) were evaluated against a baseline with all features. It was found that the best regression model for dry matter was a neural network regression model with t-test features, which achieved R 2 of 0.62 and RMSE of 2.3% in testing, while the best classification model for potato variety was a neural network classification model with correlation matrix features, achieving an F 1 score of 0.92. • Destructive bioimpedance spectroscopy for analyzing potato tuber variety and quality. • Machine Learning to optimize postharvest potato quality. • Neural Network predicts potato dry matter: R 2 = 0.62, RMSE = 2.3%. • Nine potato varieties classification: F 1 = 0.92.
Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) grown at “Patata dell'alto Viterbese” PGI have different quality characteristics and storage responses G. Bedini, Ron P. Haff, A. Benelli, A. Bandiera, E. Taormina, R. Massantini, R. Moscetti Postharvest Biology and Technology, 2024 Four pre-selected potato cultivars (Solanum tuberosum L.) from the “Patata dell’Alto Viterbese” PGI area underwent physico-chemical and enzymatic characterization to assess their suitability for specific processing line. Key chemical parameters (reducing sugar content (RSC), total phenol content (TPC), dry matter (DM), physical attributes (firmness), physico-chemical aspects (color, browning development), and enzymatic factors (polyphenol oxidase enzyme activity, PPO) were analyzed at harvest and monthly during a 6-month storage period over two production seasons (2020 and 2021). The results of one-way within-subject ANOVA and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) highlighted the superior attributes of the ‘Fontane’ cultivar for the processing industry, particularly for frying applications (e.g., chips, French fries, etc.). In comparison to other tested cultivars, ‘Fontane’ exhibited: i) the highest DM (> 200 g kg−1), ii) the lowest TPC and RSC, iii) the greatest firmness, iv) low susceptibility to browning, and v) high tolerance to Low-Temperature Sweetening (LTS). The ‘Jelly’ cultivar displayed favorable attributes for versatile use, suitable for both fresh market uses (roasting, homemade “gnocchi”, etc.) and industrial applications (fresh-cut or dried potato). It demonstrated high DM content (200 g kg−1) and firmness, the lowest PPO activity, good TPC, but higher RSC than ‘Fontane’. However, elevated RSC for ‘Jelly’ renders it less suitable for industrial frying. ‘Constance’ and ‘Gaudi’ exhibited positive traits for fresh market use such as boiling and steaming, with moderate to low DM content and firmness. Nonetheless, both cultivars displayed low tolerance to LTS, and ‘Gaudi’ exhibited the poorest processing properties, showing the highest susceptibility to browning.
Near-Infrared Spectroscopy to Predict Nutritional Factors of Green Forage Alessandro Benelli, Chiara Evangelista, Raffaello Spina, Riccardo Primi, Daniele Pietrucci, Marco Milanesi, Giovanni Chillemi, Umberto Bernabucci, Roberto Moscetti 2024 IEEE International Workshop on Metrology for Agriculture and Forestry Metroagrifor 2024 Proceedings, 2024 Green forage quality is crucial for efficient breeding. Therefore, it would be extremely important to provide a method for a rapid and cost-effective analysis of the nutritional factors of green forage. The application of Fourier-Transformed Near-Infrared (FT-NIR) spectroscopy in combination with chemometric techniques could meet the identified requirements. The objective of the present study was to develop optimized partial least squares (PLS) models for the prediction of nutritional factors of green forage, namely dry matter, crude protein, crude ash, ether extract, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, acid detergent lignin, and crude fiber. The elected PLS models resulted from a combination of chemometrics techniques applied to FT-NIR absorbance spectra acquired on fresh and $\\mathbf{dried}/ \\mathbf{milled}$ samples of green forage. The most accurate prediction results were obtained for dry matter in the fresh samples (coefficient of determination of cross-validation, $\\mathbf{R}^{2}\\mathbf{CV}=0.95$; root-mean-square error of cross-validation, RMSECV $=3.84\\mathbf{g}100\\mathbf{g}^{-1}$ fresh weight), and crude protein in the $\\mathbf{dried}/\\mathbf{milled}$ samples $(\\mathbf{R}^{2}\\mathbf{CV}$= 0.94, RMSECV = 1.99 g 100 $\\mathrm{g}^{-1}$ dry weight). Future developments will be further focused on improvement of prediction accuracy by applying deep learning techniques.
Prediction of potato dry matter content by FT-NIR spectroscopy: Impact of tuber tissue on model performance G. Bedini, S.S. Nallan Chakravartula, M. Nardella, A. Bandiera, R. Massantini, R. Moscetti Future Foods, 2023 Potato, an important cash crop, is critically affected by supply chain losses that require attention of both research and industry to ensure sustainable production (SDG 12.3). Within potato supply chain management, dry matter (DM) determination is a key factor affecting the harvest quality, storability, food losses, designated user and tuber prices. Even though rapid methods like near-infrared spectroscopy (NIR) enable operators to carry out fast, reliable in situ measurements, the prediction results are often unsatisfactory due to inherent variability of tuber's composition. Thus, this study aims to evaluate Fourier Transformed-NIR based DM prediction in different potato tissues: i) periderm, ii) cortex, iii) outer medulla and iv) inner medulla of 12 different cultivars. The DM prediction models developed using standard chemometrics approaches (i.e., partial least squares, PLS; and interval-PLS, iPLS) showed that features selection by iPLS allowed for better performances. Among the evaluated tissues, the inner medulla had more precise and reliable measurements with RMSE and R2 prediction values of 0.93% and 0.90, respectively. This information can be used to develop more advanced systems inclusive of portable tools and advanced technologies for in situ evaluation to support operators and ensure better pre- and post-harvest management of potatoes.
Knowledge and skills attractive for the employers of the organic sector: A survey across Europe Teresa Briz, Peter von Fragstein und Niemsdorff, Emanuele Radicetti, Roberto Moscetti, Eeva Uusitalo, Sari Iivonen, Ritva Mynttinen, Jan Moudry, Jan Moudry, Petr Konvalina, Marek Kopecky, Dominika Średnicka-Tober, Renata Kazimierczak, Liina Talgre, Darja Matt, Eve Veromann, Roberto Mancinelli, Ewa Rembiałkowska Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems, 2020
Computer Vision Technology for Quality Monitoring in Smart Drying System Roberto Moscetti, Swathi Sirisha Nallan Chakravartula, Andrea Bandiera, Giacomo Bedini, Riccardo Massantini 2020 IEEE International Workshop on Metrology for Agriculture and Forestry Metroagrifor 2020 Proceedings, 2020
Recent advances in the use of NIR spectroscopy for qualitative control and protection of extra virgin olive oil Rivista Italiana Delle Sostanze Grasse, 2015
1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) effects on fruit and vegetable storage Industrie Alimentari, 2009
The influence of cover crops and double harvest on storage of fresh hazelnuts (Corylus Avellana L.) Advances in Horticultural Science, 2009
Quality maintenance of Catalonian chicory (Cichorium intybus) minimally processed and 1-metylcyclopropene (1-MCP) effect on the browning of the tissues Industrie Alimentari, 2009
Zucchini (Cucurbita pepo L.) minimally processed packed in plastic film Industrie Alimentari, 2009
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Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) grown at “Patata dell'alto Viterbese” PGI have different quality characteristics and storage responses G Bedini, RP Haff, A Benelli, A Bandiera, E Taormina, R Massantini, ... Postharvest Biology and Technology 214, 112991 , 2024 2024 Citations: 8
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Nondestructive detection of insect infested chestnuts based on NIR spectroscopy R Moscetti, RP Haff, S Saranwong, D Monarca, M Cecchini, R Massantini Postharvest Biology and Technology 87, 88-94 , 2014 2014 Citations: 120
Optimisation of physical and chemical treatments to control browning development and enzymatic activity on fresh-cut apple slices L Shrestha, B Kulig, R Moscetti, R Massantini, E Pawelzik, O Hensel, ... Foods 9 (1), 76 , 2020 2020 Citations: 104
Monitoring and optimization of the process of drying fruits and vegetables using computer vision: A review F Raponi, R Moscetti, D Monarca, A Colantoni, R Massantini Sustainability 9 (11), 2009 , 2017 2017 Citations: 97
Management of winter cover crop residues under different tillage conditions affects nitrogen utilization efficiency and yield of eggplant (Solanum melanogena L.) in … E Radicetti, R Mancinelli, R Moscetti, E Campiglia Soil and Tillage Research 155, 329-338 , 2016 2016 Citations: 91
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Real-time monitoring of organic apple (var. Gala) during hot-air drying using near-infrared spectroscopy R Moscetti, F Raponi, S Ferri, A Colantoni, D Monarca, R Massantini Journal of food engineering 222, 139-150 , 2018 2018 Citations: 76
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