Electrochemical analysis: a way to make pesticides safer?

KARACHI: Pesticides have helped farmers protect their crops and increase yields for decades. However, their excessive use and accumulation in soil and food have become a growing global concern. Traces of pesticide residues are now found in fruits, vegetables, and even drinking water posing potential risks to both human health and the environment.

To address this issue, scientists are turning to electrochemical analysis, an innovative and affordable technology that helps detect pesticides quickly and accurately not just in laboratories, but also right in the field where farmers need it most.

Electrochemical analysis works by measuring tiny electrical signals that occur when pesticide molecules interact with a special sensor or electrode. Each pesticide has a unique reaction pattern, allowing the sensor to “recognise” and measure it much like a fingerprint scanner identifies a person.

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This process turns chemical reactions into measurable electric signals. The results appear in just a few minutes, making it one of the fastest and most cost-effective detection techniques available today.

At the Enzyme Institute Laboratory, University of Wisconsin Madison, US, advanced research under Prof Dr Sundram Gunasekaran is leading to the next generation of electrochemical pesticide sensors. Under his supervision, scientists including Dr Aasia Akbar Panhwar from Pakistan’s Sindh Agriculture University are developing new enzyme-based and nanomaterial enhanced sensors. These sensors can detect even minute traces of harmful chemicals that are otherwise invisible to the naked eye.

Unlike bulky laboratory instruments, these sensors are small, portable, and affordable, making them ideal for use by farmers, agriculture extension workers, and food safety inspectors.

Talking to Business Recorder, Dr Panhwar, a renowned agriculture and food expert, said for many farmers, pesticide use is a balancing act: too little invites pests, too much harms soil, plants, and people. Often, farmers have no quick way to check whether pesticide residues remain on their crops or in irrigation water.

She said electrochemical analysis offers a farmer-friendly solution including:

• fast results—pesticide detection in minutes
• low cost—no need for expensive lab tests
• portable—can be used in the field or at collection centers
• accurate and reliable—detects even small pesticide traces safely.

This means farmers can test their produce before sending it to market, ensuring it meets food safety standards and builds consumer trust. It also helps them optimise pesticide use, reducing both cost and environmental impact.

Commenting on protecting consumers and the environment, Dr Panhwar said the benefits extend beyond the farm. Electrochemical sensors can be used to monitor vegetables and fruits before sale; water sources used for irrigation and drinking, and soil and runoff, preventing long-term contamination.

Quick on-site testing can help local authorities, exporters, and farmers’ cooperatives to ensure food quality and compliance with national and international residue limits, she said.

Research is also exploring smartphone-linked electrochemical sensors, allowing farmers to test samples and instantly view results on a mobile app. Nanomaterials like graphene, gold nanoparticles, and carbon nanotubes are improving sensitivity and durability, while AI-based systems are being developed to store and analyse data across regions.

In the near future, farmers may be able to carry a handheld device that provides instant pesticide safety checks turning complex science into an everyday agricultural tool.

Ensuring safe, residue-free food also supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal, which promotes reducing food loss and waste through sustainable practices. Electrochemical detection helps achieve this by improving product quality, protecting health, and empowering farmers with knowledge.