MantiSpectra x Vencomatic Group – Using Spectral Sensors To Optimise Poultry Production

The poultry industry faces multiple challenges, including the cost of feed, animal welfare monitoring, alongside incubation and hatching success rates. But what do these challenges have in common? They can all be addressed by real-time access to biological and chemical data. The question is how to surface that data non-invasively.  

A partnership between MantiSpectra – an innovative Dutch startup specialising in spectral sensing components –  and Vencomatic Group – an established name in sustainable and animal-friendly solutions for poultry production – has the answer in the form of miniaturised integrated photonic chips. Mantispectra’s work is supported by PhotonDelta with a funding allocation from the National Growth Fund. 

A synergistic approach to optimised food production 

Optical spectroscopy is a technique within the field of photonics that studies the interaction of light and matter. It measures how light is absorbed, emitted, and scattered to obtain information about its composition, structure, and properties.  

Put optical spectroscopy on a miniaturised chip, and you have a game-changing technology for optimising industrial food processes – not just in poultry farming but food production in general. And that’s precisely what the partnership between MantiSpectra – the technology provider – and Vencomatic, the application specialist – is aimed at.  

Vencomatic Group provides comprehensive solutions for the poultry industry, ranging from poultry housing systems to egg handling, climate control, and precision farming technologies. For over 40 years, the company has maintained its focus on cage-free machinery, aiming to support more sustainable and humane farming practices.  

MantiSpectra specialises in producing miniaturised spectral sensors that can extract quantitative and qualitative data from organic materials. The Netherlands-based company is innovating chip-based light sensors spanning the near-IR and visible light spectrum. Scalable, versatile, and increasingly affordable, these sensors have multiple applications in a wide range of industries, including agriculture.  

Bringing better quality controls to poultry production 

The innovative partnership between MantiSpectra and Vencomatic has grown out of a much wider conversation around the use of spectral sensors to address the key challenges in global food production. It’s an approach pioneered in the dairy industry, where near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy facilitates rapid, non-destructive analysis of milk composition. 

Vencomatic’s customers – large-scale poultry producers – grapple with numerous challenges related to feed optimisation, animal welfare, and egg production. A critical area of concern is the quality assessment of eggs, which is essential for both consumption and hatcheries.  

For example, in hatcheries, the orientation of eggs during incubation has a significant impact on chick viability. Eggs must be positioned with the pointed end facing downward so that the air chamber is at the top. This positioning allows the developing chick to first break into the air chamber before pecking through the eggshell itself. The misalignment of eggs can result in significant embryo loss, reducing the overall yield and profitability of hatcheries.  

There’s also a need for better feed quality analysis and environmental monitoring within poultry housing systems. Poultry farming is a low-margin business, meaning that affordability and reliability of technological solutions are critical to their adoption. But current methods rely on high-end equipment that’s costly, prone to breakdowns, and incompatible with the harsh reality of farming. 

“Agriculture is a tight-margin business. Whoever produces most cheaply or at the highest quality wins, and these small, early notifications can make a huge difference.” 

– Dick van de Ven, Manager R&D Mechanics, Vencomatic 

Current methods of quality control rely on expensive, high-end equipment or involve invasive procedures that can damage the eggs. Additionally, these approaches provide only occasional, rather than continuous, data, limiting their usefulness for real-time decision-making. 

Technological evolution with viable scalability  

The collaboration creates a powerful synergy that can revolutionise agricultural processes through innovative applications of spectroscopy. As MantiSpectra refines its technology and Vencomatic applies it to real-world scenarios, the partnership is paving the way for innovative applications and expanded accessibility. It’s a journey marked by continuous improvement and scaling.  

Following the prototyping phase of their first product, MantiSpectra has officially launched its first high-volume manufacturing-ready spectral sensor. Notably, they’re also preparing for the release of their next-generation product, the ChipSense 2.0, which is anticipated to enter the market in alpha version by April, with a fully-fledged release planned for the end of 2025. 

The primary focus of the new version is miniaturisation. The smaller size allows for increased production efficiency, reduced costs, and broader applicability, particularly as the company aims to penetrate the consumer market. How? The process involves fabricating chips on wafers following semi-con manufacturing principles. Smaller chips allow for higher yields from each wafer. This, in turn, lowers production costs and makes the technology more accessible. The smaller footprint and standardized solid-state semiconductor fabrication process means ChipSense is suited to high volume applications; it’s low cost and highly reproducible. 

From a technological standpoint, the current wavelength range of the spectral sensor is 500 to 1700 nanometers, covering near-infrared and a portion of the visible spectrum. Within this range, the sensor can accurately measure organic materials, enabling applications across various industries: including food and beverage, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and automotive. 

Strategic positioning for diverse applications 

Rather than narrowing its focus to specific verticals, MantiSpectra has deliberately chosen to position itself as a technology provider, offering a versatile, application-agnostic solution. This approach allows clients to tailor the technology to their own specific needs, using Mantispectra’s chip as a foundational tool.  

“Our partnership with Vencomatic demonstrates the incredible potential of spectral technology when applied to real-world scenarios. Together, we’re not just making processes more efficient; we’re opening doors to entirely new possibilities.”  

– Leonardo Boarotto, Business Development Manager, MantiSpectra 

The flexibility of MantiSpectra’s technology allows it to be integrated into various parts of the production process, enabling real-time monitoring and decision-making. By offering a ‘Swiss army knife’ approach, MantiSpectra is empowering its partners to devise customised solutions for their respective industries, while also gathering valuable feedback to continuously enhance their offerings.  

Harnessing the power of collaboration  

This strategy is particularly relevant to their collaboration with Vencomatic, which specialises in automation equipment for the poultry industry. Their work together focuses on developing automated systems capable of performing various tasks in poultry farming, including sorting eggs, analysing feed quality, and monitoring other production parameters. 

Through early testing, Vencomatic has successfully employed MantiSpectra’s sensors to differentiate between various classes of eggs and monitor feed quality. They are also working on building integrated machines capable of sorting and processing eggs based on the sensor’s readings. This machinery aims to deliver real-time information that can drive automated responses, ultimately optimising efficiency and reducing waste. 

Beyond that, the ability to detect deviations in feed quality in real-time offers a critical advantage. Instead of waiting for laboratory analysis, Vencomatic’s systems can provide immediate insights, enabling quick interventions to correct potential issues before they escalate. This approach not only saves resources but also improves the overall health and productivity of poultry operations. 

Democratising spectroscopy – the road ahead 

MantiSpectra’s long-term vision is ambitious. The company aims to democratise spectroscopy by making their technology affordable and accessible to everyone. This goal ties directly into their efforts to further miniaturise their sensors, thereby lowering costs and making the technology viable for consumer markets. 

By the end of the year, MantiSpectra intends to fully outsource its production process, allowing it to achieve high-volume manufacturing for ChipSense 2.0. Future plans include further miniaturisation, ensuring the sensors can be incorporated into an even broader range of applications. 

The collaboration between MantiSpectra and Vencomatic demonstrates the potential of combining cutting-edge spectral technology with industry-specific automation. As their partnership continues to evolve, the promise of real-time, precise data collection is set to transform not only poultry farming but a wide array of industries. 

Learn more about the innovative partnerships driving market adoption of Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs). Discover the PhotonDelta ecosystem