Dübendorf, Switzerland
July 11, 2012

QualySense, an EMPA-based start-up company that focuses on innovative grain and seed sorting technologies, announces today that it has obtained an EU sponsored funding for over EUR 600,000 to finance the MYCOSORT project.

The “MYCOSORT” project aims at developing an innovative sorting device that removes mycotoxin-contaminated kernels from wheat or corn grain batches. Fast and precise “kernel by kernel” analysis and sorting are enabled by the complex technology that has been developed by QualySense. The project will be developed with an established international strategic partner.

Fungal contamination is one of the largest causes of cereals losses worldwide, especially in the emerging markets. Each year it affects large volumes of cereals and other agricultural products. During quality inspection activities, if contaminated grains are detected in a sample then the whole batch is declared as contaminated and it has to be discarded. As a  result, large amounts of uncontaminated grain are also disposed since fungal contaminations are not uniformly distributed. Today, several technologies exist to identify contaminated commodities but no common sorting device is able to sort large volumes of contaminated grains at high speed. The MYCOSORT project will deliver such sorting device and will
allow the recycling of large quantities of uncontaminated commodities, which correspond to an enormous financial value.

The Eurostars Program is a European Joint Program dedicated to R&D performing SMEs, and co-funded by the European Communities and 33 EUREKA member countries. Eurostars grants aim to stimulate these SMEs to lead international collaborative research and innovation projects by easing access to support and funding. It is fine-tuned to focus on the needs of SMEs, and specifically targets the development of new products, processes and services, and the access to transnational and international markets.

Eurostars joins our list of “top in class” research partners, which include the Swiss Commission for Technology and Innovation (CTI), the research and services institution for material sciences and technology development (EMPA), the Agroscope Research Station (ACW), and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Mr. Alberto Romaneschi, Chairman of QualySense says: ¨This grant is yet another confirmation for our team and our technology. Our solution will contribute at reducing significantly the negative effect of fungal contamination on grain and wheat crops worldwide delivering great value to producers and traders. This new solution will complement very well our application portfolio. We are convinced that with our strategic partners we will provide an efficient and sustainable solution¨.

QualySense is the worldwide leader focused on delivering innovative high-end sorting solutions to achieve optimal processing, quality, and safety of grains, seeds, and beans. We are the leaders in the development of efficient, highcapacity technologies for analyzing and sorting grains, seeds, and beans according to biochemical and morphological traits. QualySense was founded in 2010 and has been awarded a number of prizes and grants. The company is rapidly growing and has lately received the Swissparks “Best Startup of 2012” award.

Website: http://www.qualysense.com

Published: July 11, 2012