In an era where sustainable food production is increasingly critical, innovative analytical tools are essential for addressing agricultural challenges. Mohammed Kamruzzaman, Assistant Professor in Agricultural and Biological Engineering, is advancing research that combines optical sensing with machine learning to revolutionize how we monitor and analyze agricultural and food systems.

Since joining UIUC in 2020, Kamruzzaman has established a comprehensive research program focused on three key areas: near-infrared spectroscopy, hyperspectral imaging, and nanozyme-based sensing. These complementary approaches address critical challenges in food security and agricultural sustainability.

Sustainable Analytical Solutions for Agriculture

"Conventional quality screening tools in the food and bioprocessing industry are time-consuming, expensive, and destructive and require several chemical reagents and different analytical instruments for each attribute," Kamruzzaman explains. "Therefore, it is critical to introduce sustainability in analytical tools that are cost-effective, chemical-free, and non-destructive to measure several constituents simultaneously quickly and accurately."

Kamruzzaman's work with near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy provides exactly such a solution—a chemical-free, non-destructive approach that measures multiple constituents simultaneously from a single spectrum. His team has successfully developed NIR calibration models for corn quality assessment and is now working toward universal multi-grain calibration models that could transform quality testing across the grain industry.

With funding from the Center for Advanced Research in Drying (CARD), his group has created a smart drying system equipped with RGB cameras and NIR sensors that monitor product quality based on color, size, and shrinkage during drying, as well as predict drying endpoints—an innovation that could significantly improve energy efficiency and product quality in food processing.

Advancing Hyperspectral Imaging Applications

Kamruzzaman's expertise in hyperspectral imaging is finding applications from poultry production to sweetpotato quality assessment. Under a USDA seed grant, his team is developing a hyperspectral imaging solution for early prediction of chick embryo sex, addressing the current practice of culling approximately 300 million male layer chicks annually in the United States alone.

To make this powerful but typically expensive technology more accessible, his lab has implemented deep learning algorithms to reconstruct hyperspectral data from simple RGB images. This innovative approach has shown promise for accurately predicting dry matter and soluble solid content in sweetpotatoes as well as chick embryonic mortality prediction during pre-incubation.

Next-Generation Biosensing with Nanozymes

Kamruzzaman notes that "fully organic material-based nanozymes, known as organic nanozymes, have emerged as promising alternatives due to their potential for improved biocompatibility, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness." His group has successfully synthesized several organic nanozymes for detecting herbicides, antioxidants, aflatoxins in corn, and allergens in various foods.

For this groundbreaking work on nanozyme-based detection systems, Kamruzzaman has received funding from the Aflatoxin Mitigation Center of Excellence (AMCOE) to develop sensors for detecting mycotoxins in agricultural products.

Research Impact Through Collaboration

Kamruzzaman has built strong collaborative relationships with faculty members across multiple departments including ABE, Food Science and Human Nutrition, Animal Sciences, Crop Sciences, and Computer Science. These interdisciplinary connections enable comprehensive approaches to complex agricultural challenges that no single discipline could address alone.

His research has already attracted funding from multiple sources, including USDA, industry partners like PepsiCo, and the Aflatoxin Mitigation Center of Excellence, demonstrating both the scientific merit and practical applications of these technologies.

Kamruzzaman describes his integrated research efforts as having "the ultimate goal of enhancing food security, quality, safety, and nutrition, while simultaneously accounting for environmental and socio-economic impacts." This work exemplifies ABE's holistic approach to agricultural systems, developing technologies that are not only scientifically advanced but also practical, sustainable, and economically viable.

For more information about Dr. Kamruzzaman's research program, visit his laboratory website here or visit his research facility in AESB 104.