The 2025 Philippines AgriLink Expo, a key event for Southeast Asia’s agricultural sector, has become a window to witness the region’s accelerating shift toward automation—with
color sorters and advanced sorting tech taking center stage. As local farmers and processors grapple with labor shortages and rising demand for high-quality export crops, innovative
optical sorters and
color sorting machines have emerged as must-have tools.
At the expo, leading global and regional brands showcased solutions tailored to Southeast Asia’s staple crops. A standout was the
Rice Color Sorter with multi-spectral imaging, designed to remove broken grains, discolored kernels, and tiny stones from Philippine white rice—critical for meeting Japan and South Korea’s strict import standards. Visitors also flocked to booths displaying
Grain Color Sorters optimized for corn and coconut copra, two crops driving the country’s agricultural export growth. These machines use AI-powered cameras to sort at speeds up to 12 tons per hour, cutting manual labor costs by 40% compared to traditional methods.
Local processors highlighted a key trend: the shift from basic color sorting to multi-functional systems. Many exhibited
Bean Color Sorters that can simultaneously detect moisture levels and mold in mung beans and black beans, addressing post-harvest waste issues that have long plagued Southeast Asian farms. “We used to reject 15% of our bean harvest due to invisible defects,” said a Filipino processor. “With this new
optical sorter, we’ve reduced waste to 3%.”
The expo also revealed growing interest in compact, energy-efficient
color sorters—a response to smallholder farmers’ limited space and power access. Brands that offered easy maintenance and local after-sales support drew the most attention, reflecting the region’s need for practical, sustainable automation solutions.
