Artificial Intelligence in Sorting: How EKSLi Technologies Solve Labor Shortages and Transform Potato Farming Economics

The agricultural sector is currently facing a massive labor shortage, with the deficit estimated at around 160,000 workers. In response to the growing challenge of finding personnel, farmers are increasingly turning to optical sorting technologies powered by artificial intelligence. Maxim Lysenko, founder of the Russian company EKSLi, detailed how these systems operate on real production lines and address industry pain points.

Stability Over Staff Reduction A common misconception is that optical sorters will completely eliminate the need for human labor. In practice, automation can replace about 80% of workers on the line, but some personnel remain essential for ongoing quality control.

The true value of AI sorting lies in operational stability. Human workers are inherently subjective; even experienced technologists can give varying assessments of the same potato within a span of 10 to 15 minutes. Furthermore, human productivity declines toward the end of a shift. A machine ensures a consistent process, preventing manual sorting from becoming a “bottleneck” during peak harvest seasons when large volumes must be shipped rapidly.

Economics and Cold Storage Technologies The return on investment for EKSLi equipment typically ranges from one to three years. This calculation factors in direct payroll savings as well as indirect costs associated with hiring, transportation, accommodation, and employee absenteeism.

Crucially, optical sorting has a profound impact on the efficiency of cold storage technologies. By separating stones and soil clods during the intake process, farms avoid wasting valuable storage area on foreign objects. Removing debris also significantly reduces ventilation costs, as dirt and stones impede proper airflow within the storage facilities. Ultimately, storing a cleaner crop directly improves its long-term preservation.

Machine Vision Limitations and the “Trade-Off” Dilemma Optical sorters operate by modeling natural intelligence in silicon, using cameras to “see” like a human. While the AI can easily distinguish a round orange from a potato, the technology has physical limitations. For instance, if a potato is completely encased in a “shell” of dirt, the machine will identify it as a soil clod and reject it.

This creates what engineers call a “trade-off”—a dilemma between maximizing the removal of critical defects and minimizing the accidental loss of good product that gets sent to the waste pile.

The “Hidden Margin Plus” Solution To mitigate product loss, EKSLi developed a supplementary solution referred to as “hidden margin plus”. This compact sorter is installed on the discharge conveyor to clean the rejected flow. It separates second-grade potatoes from stones and plant residues, allowing the farm to sell the recovered product at a lower price rather than throwing it away. This machine can also operate independently to sort soil and stones directly from the warehouse.

Localization and Expansion into Central Asia A major advantage of utilizing domestic equipment is the absence of a language barrier and direct communication with the manufacturer. EKSLi continuously refines the industrial design and ergonomics of its machines based on direct feedback from enterprise engineers.

The company is also actively expanding its footprint across Central Asia. In Kazakhstan, the official dealer “Ak Bars” provides local sales, support, and representation at regional exhibitions.

For enterprises ready to test these technologies, using the promo code “Картофель 2.0” “POTATO 2.0” grants a 5% discount on EKSLi equipment. Ultimately, adopting AI requires a thorough audit to calculate exactly how much the enterprise is currently losing to operational inefficiencies and manual labor inconsistencies.

EKSLi Contact Information:

• Website: https://eksli.ru
• Phone: +7 495 156 0526