Terahertz Vs. Traditional Spectroscopy: A Meta-Review on Quality Assurance in the Food Industry and Agriculture

Terahertz (THz) imaging and spectroscopy are promising solutions for non-destructive testing (NDT) and quality control in agricultural and food systems in the modern era. To recognize harmful compounds, pesticides, and Foreign Objects (FO), numerous agricultural engineers are combining THz Spectroscopy (THzS) with chemometric schemes and Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithms. Conventional studies have failed to provide deep insight into the comparative analysis of THzS and other spectroscopy techniques. Also, a meta-analysis on the full potential of THzS in Moisture Content (MC) analysis and contaminant detection across various food products was rarely focused in the prevailing surveys. Thus, this meta-review aims to highlight the responsibilities of THzS and other spectroscopy techniques for Quality Assurance (QA) in the Food Industry (FI) and agricultural systems to bridge the research gaps.