Smarter crop monitoring with hyperspectral imaging

Modern farming faces growing challenges: droughts, soil degradation, rising input costs, and increasing demands for sustainability. Efficient crop monitoring is the foundation of modern precision agriculture. To succeed, farmers need early and deep insights into plant health and soil conditions. Traditional methods rely on visual inspections or basic remote sensing, which often miss early signs of stress. 

Hyperspectral imaging changes this by capturing dozens or even hundreds of narrow spectral bands, revealing the biochemical state of plants in real time. These high-resolution data points allow growers to track changes in leaf pigmentation, water content, and cellular activity — indicators of early stress long before symptoms appear to the naked eye.

Photonfocus, in collaboration with imec — one of the world’s leading research centers for nanoelectronics and digital technologies — brings this innovation into agriculture. Together, we combine imec’s pioneering sensor technology with our expertise in developing robust, field-ready camera systems for drones, tractors, and handheld devices. 

In the example below, a standard RGB aerial image of strawberry fields is compared with a hyperspectral chlorophyll index map. While the RGB image shows little variation, hyperspectral imaging highlights subtle differences in plant health caused by varying irrigation and fertilization treatments.

 

Hyperspectral imaging enables farmers to:
 

  • Monitor crop vitality and detect early signs of stress
  • Identify nutrient and water deficiencies before visible symptoms occur
  • Optimize irrigation, fertilization, and resource use based on real-time field data
  • Strengthen plant health and minimize yield losses
 

Photonfocus hyperspectral cameras have proven themselves in agricultural applications.


Learn in the imec whitepaper what makes photonSPECTRAL cameras the perfect choice for smarter crop monitoring.

 

Understanding soil health
 

Healthy soils are essential for crop performance and long-term farm productivity. Yet, assessing soil conditions often involves manual sampling and lab testing — time-consuming and infrequent.
 

Hyperspectral imaging offers a contactless, scalable solution by analyzing the spectral reflectance of soils, which varies with organic matter, mineral content, moisture, and contaminants. These insights help identify nutrient-deficient zones, erosion-prone areas, or pollution hot spots, supporting smarter management and soil conservation strategies.
 

Hyperspectral imaging enables:
 

  • Detection of soil fertility variability across fields
  • Identification of pollution or heavy metal contamination
  • Precise guidance for variable-rate seeding and fertilization
  • Sustainable soil management through early diagnostics
 		 

 

Better water management
 

Water is one of the most limited inputs in farming today — and one of the most wastefully applied. With climate variability increasing, efficient irrigation is no longer optional.
 

Hyperspectral imaging helps monitor both soil moisture and plant water content, using bands in the near- and short-wave infrared ranges to detect stress signals invisible to RGB cameras. This makes it possible to manage irrigation dynamically, responding to the real needs of each zone in the field.
 

Hyperspectral imaging enables:
 

  • Early detection of drought stress in crops
  • Irrigation decisions based on real-time moisture data
  • Reduced water waste and energy consumption
  • Preservation of yield under climate stress conditions
 		 

 

Perfecting harvest timing
 

Harvesting too early or too late can significantly impact quality, flavor, and yield — especially in fruit and vegetable farming. Ripeness is not always obvious visually, especially in early stages.
 

Hyperspectral imaging allows growers to monitor internal biochemical changes in plants and fruits, such as sugar levels, anthocyanin content, or chlorophyll breakdown. These indicators help determine optimal harvest windows, improving both consistency and commercial value.
 

Hyperspectral imaging enables:
 

  • Accurate assessment of ripeness based on biochemical markers
  • Better harvest scheduling for improved quality and yield
  • Reduction of waste due to under- or overripe harvests
  • Higher market value through optimized timing
 		 

 

Early disease detection
 

Crop diseases can spread fast and devastate entire fields if not caught early. But visible symptoms often appear too late — after the infection has taken hold.
 

Hyperspectral imaging detects metabolic changes in plants that occur during the earliest stages of disease development. From blight in tomatoes to fungal infections in bananas, hyperspectral systems provide a non-invasive way to detect and localize infections, giving farmers a critical time advantage for treatment.
 

Hyperspectral imaging enables:
 

  • Pre-symptomatic detection of crop diseases
  • Reduced pesticide use through targeted treatment
  • Improved containment of outbreaks in large fields
  • Better long-term health and yield protection
 		 

Want to dive deeper?


If you want to understand how hyperspectral imaging is reshaping agriculture — from smart crop monitoring to better harvest timing — our whitepaper "How compact hyperspectral cameras will revolutionize precision agriculture" offers a clear overview. This whitepaper was developed by imec, a global leader in hyperspectral imaging research, with contributions from Photonfocus on practical hardware integration for agricultural use.

In the whitepaper, you'll discover how hyperspectral insights can help to:
 

  • Detect plant stress early and accurately
  • Monitor soil and crop health precisely
  • Manage water and inputs more efficiently
  • Improve harvest timing and quality
Download whitepaper

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