The Role of Spectroscopy in Modern Agriculture

Agriculture is an important industry globally. This industry is responsible for producing the food and bio-based materials that support several key industries as well as human life. Currently, innovations in crop science, precision farming, and sustainable practices are contributing toward solving some of the most pressing issues the world is facing. Some of these issues include climate change, resource conservation, and ecosystem health. The sector also supplies inputs for pharmaceuticals, textiles, and renewable energy. As populations grow and diets evolve, resilient, efficient agriculture remains essential for economic stability, public health, and environmental stewardship worldwide.

With the global population increasing, the agricultural industry faces the monumental challenge of increasing production efficiency while dealing with soil degradation, resource scarcity, and climate change.¹ Spectroscopic analytical techniques have emerged as vital tools in this effort, offering rapid, non-destructive, and highly precise methods for evaluating everything from soil health to seed vitality and food safety.²

In this overview, we explore how these advancements are transforming the "farm to fork" pipeline in the agriculture industry.

Why is spectroscopy becoming the preferred method for agricultural analysis over traditional wet chemistry?

Currently, traditional methods for measuring parameters like soil fertility or seed vigor are often destructive, time-consuming, and labor-intensive.^2,3 For example, conventional seed vigor tests may take days and render the seeds unusable for planting.³ In contrast, spectroscopy uses light ranging from ultraviolet to near-infrared and X-rays to interact with matter, allowing for rapid data collection without damaging the sample.^1–3 Techniques like near-infrared (NIR) and mid-infrared (MIR) spectroscopy can determine multiple soil attributes in minutes at a significantly reduced cost.¹

How is spectroscopy advancing the way we monitor soil health?

Soil quality is the bedrock of agriculture, providing essential nutrients and water retention for crops.¹ Spectroscopy advances this field in several ways, such as nutrient prediction, contamination detection, and determining overall crop production efficiency.

For nutrient prediction, X-ray fluorescence (XRF) sensors are being developed to provide a cost-effective way to predict plant-available nutrients like calcium and potassium, which is critical in regions with limited laboratory infrastructure.²

When it comes to contamination detection, inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) and portable XRF (pXRF) are used to identify heavy metal contamination, such as copper and arsenic, in agricultural soils.²

And finally, portable vis-NIR (visible-NIR) spectrometers have allowed for in-situ soil analysis, measuring organic carbon, nitrogen, and pH directly in the field without the need for chemical processing.² As a result, analysis time is accelerated without compromising accuracy.

Between MIR and NIR spectroscopy, researchers are finding that MIR spectroscopy often provides more accurate results than NIR for bulk density, carbon, and pH, and can effectively analyze soil that has merely been dried and sieved, rather than undergoing intensive ball-milling.¹

What role does spectroscopy play in improving crop yields through seed selection?

Seed selection can directly impact crop yield. As a result, high-vigor seeds ae more desirable. These seeds are considered essential for food security because they germinate quickly, resist harsh conditions, and produce healthier seedlings.³ Spectroscopy is advancing seed science through non-destructive sorting, respiration monitoring, and overcoming interferences. We explore these three areas more in detail below.

Let’s start with non-destructive sorting. On this front, hyperspectral imaging (HSI) is combining traditional imaging with spectral analysis to batch-test single seeds. As a result, HSI is successfully distinguishing between living and dead corn or peanut seeds with over 90% accuracy.³

For respiration monitoring, methods such as tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy (TDLAS) can measure the carbon dioxide produced by a seed’s aerobic respiration, which is positively correlated with its vitality.³

And finally, when it comes to overcoming interference, advanced NIR super-continuum laser spectroscopy uses high-energy light to penetrate seed coats (like rice lemma shells) to obtain internal compositional data, achieving germination rates of over 95% in screened populations.³

How can Raman spectroscopy specifically aid in crop quality and stress detection?

Raman spectroscopy is particularly valuable in aiding crop quality and stress detection because it is insensitive to water content, making it ideal for analyzing live plants. It probes molecular vibrations to identify pigments, nutrients, and structural components like cellulose.⁴

The technique is also useful in stress monitoring. Plants produce secondary metabolites (like carotenoids and polyphenols) in response to stressors such as drought, UV radiation, or pathogens. Raman spectroscopy allows researchers to monitor these stress indicators in real-time, facilitating early interventions to save yields.⁴

Raman spectroscopy is also a sensitive technique, which comes in handy for agriculture applications. As an example, techniques like surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) use metal nanoparticles to amplify signals, allowing for the detection of trace toxins or pesticide residues on crop surfaces with 10 times higher sensitivity.⁴

How does spectroscopy protect the supply chain from "food fraud"?

Food integrity is a growing concern. Food fraud is when food products are intentionally adulterated for profit.⁵ Bad actors that do this can negatively harm consumer health.⁵ Thankfully, spectroscopic techniques can help combat this issue.

Handheld portable instruments, such as portable Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrometers, allow for on-site analysis.⁵ These devices can rapidly identify the authenticity of high-value products like extra virgin olive oil, honey, and milk.⁵ In addition, inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), combined with principal component analysis (PCA), is highly effective at authenticating the geographic origin of plant foods, which is vital for certifying products with a protected designation of origin (PDO).²

What are the future trends for spectroscopy in agriculture?

The field is moving toward digital farming and increased automation. Key research directions include the following:

• AI and Machine Learning: Algorithms like Random Forest and Support Vector Machines are being integrated with spectroscopic data to handle the high variability of agricultural samples and improve prediction accuracy.^1,2
• Smartphone Integration: There is a growing interest in using smartphone-based sensors for rapid, on-site soil quality assessment and fluorescence imaging.²
• Standardized Databases: Establishing universal spectral databases for different seed varieties and soil types is a priority to make these technologies more accessible and cost-effective for global production.^3,4

References

1. Wetzel, W. Monitoring Soil Quality Using MIR and NIR Spectral Models: An Interview with Felipe Bachion de Santana. Spectroscopy. Available at: https://www.spectroscopyonline.com/view/monitoring-soil-quality-using-mir-and-nir-spectral-models-an-interview-with-felipe-bachion-de-santana (accessed 2026-02-25).
2. Workman, Jr., J. A Review of the Latest Spectroscopic Research in Agriculture Analysis. Spectroscopy. Available at: https://www.spectroscopyonline.com/view/a-review-of-the-latest-spectroscopic-research-in-agriculture-analysis (accessed 2026-02-25).
3. Xiaoyu, W.; Mingdong, Z.; Jie, L. et al. Evaluation and Development Trends of Optical Detection Technology for Seed Vigor. Spectroscopy. Available at: https://doi.org/10.56530/spectroscopy.jf4177k4 (accessed 2026-02-25).
4. Wetzel, W. Reviewing the Impact of Raman Spectroscopy on Crop Quality Assessment: An Interview with Miri Park. Spectrosc. Suppl. 2024, 39 (s2), 28–31. Available at: https://www.spectroscopyonline.com/view/reviewing-the-impact-of-raman-spectroscopy-on-crop-quality-assessment-an-interview-with-miri-park
5. Lavery, P. Q&A: Portable FT-IR Empowers On-Site Food Quality Assurance. Spectroscopy. Available at: https://www.spectroscopyonline.com/view/transformative-solutions-portable-ftir-on-site-food-quality-assurance (accessed 2026-02-25).