AgriSPEC: A smartphone-based, compact biospeckle imager for assessing seed viability

Seeds are a vital cornerstone of agriculture and their capability to germinate is vital for combating global food insecurity by ensuring high crop yields. We introduce ‘AgriSPEC,’ a custom-built, portable imaging device that utilizes a smartphone and laser speckle imaging to assess seed viability by visualizing and analyzing biological activity levels within multiple samples simultaneously. Our prototype imager comprises a compact attachment that incorporates all components for optimal illumination of the samples. Additionally, we have developed a processing algorithm that combines RGB and speckle images to generate graphical maps representing seed biological activity. Our results demonstrate the algorithm’s ability to generate maps with enhanced contrast as compared to existing methods. We validate the effectiveness of our device by performing standard germination tests for seed viability. Our proposed low-cost, real-time activity visualizer allows stakeholders to integrate this technology into seed selection protocols thereby promoting sustainability in agriculture by optimizing crop inputs.