Rausch GmbH, a renowned manufacturer of chocolate, and QVisions GmbH, a Berlin-based start-up, have announced a cooperation for the digital quality inspection of raw cocoa. This will involve the use of AI-powered software that uses imagery to capture the quality of raw cocoa and digitize the quality control process.

QVisions was founded in August 2022 after the idea of using AI to check the quality of raw cocoa was born at the Hamburg Chocolate Museum. The start-up works closely with Rausch cocoa expert and biologist Dr Christina Rohsius, who provides critical support for the project. She is testing the software extensively and contributing her expertise. The software should be able to detect quality defects such as insect infestation or mould and determine the degree of fermentation using a colour scheme. The collaboration aims to digitally record the quality control process in order to analyse collected data, identify quality deterioration and trace back where this has occurred.