“This online platform is a fundamental pillar in our mission to empower farmers to sustainably produce saffron for a growing world population in an ever-changing climate,” says Khalil Mirza, CEO and co-founder of Saffrosystems LLC.
As Khalil explains, Saffrosystems operates a donation-based online platform where farmers can network, learn and develop their saffron pursuits. The company is also currently developing a proprietary artificial intelligence-based model that can detect pure and fake saffron in a cost-effective manner.
“This is a vital service that will help deter the adulteration of the world’s most frauded spice and the fourth most adulterated food item: saffron,” explains Khalil.
Khalil Mirza
Unbiased
Saffrosystems does not produce saffron and believes that remaining independent from the production of saffron is imperative to remaining unbiased when supporting saffron growers to establish their farms. As such, Saffrosystems aims to work predominantly with growers while its audience for saffron purity detection is governments, wholesale traders and other large-scale users of the spice.
“We are currently working with scientists from the USDA-ARS to study our saffron purity detection technology. We are looking to expand beyond simple purity detection to include other quality parameters and potentially expand our technology into other adulterated spices and herbs,” explains Khalil.
The Saffrosystems platform is user-friendly, robust and cost-free, enabling farmers around the world to engage in the global saffron conversation. As Khalil explains, offering this sort of platform is key to empowering communities in the advancement of food systems and in the adoption of environmentally smart technology.
Saffron holds great potential in the United States
Based in Maryland, Saffrosystems is convinced of saffron’s potential in the local market as the crop requires little inputs, can be grown in the shoulder season to improve farmers’ bottom lines and possess a myriad of medicinal benefits.
“We envision a future farming system in the US and around the globe where growers have polyculture systems that use saffron to improve the profitability, sustainability and health of the US and humanity,” says Khalil. “We are also paving the way towards a future where consumers aren’t spending their hard-earned dollars on an adulterated spice.”
If anyone is interested in supporting Saffrosystems’ mission and community, feel free to join the free platform and/or donate to the cause.
For more information:
Khalil Z. Mirza, CEO and Co-Founder
Saffrosystems, LLC
https://saffrosystems.com