Biosensor for agriculture and food safety: Recent trends and future perspectives

1. BIOSENSORS FOR AGRICULTURE
AND FOOD SAFETY: RECENT TRENDS
AND FUTURE PERSPECTIVES
K. PRAVIN KUMAR DR. M. NATARAJAN
PG SCHOLAR ASSISTANT PROFESSOR,
DEPT. OF AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION

2. HISTORY:
• In 1956, Leland C. Clark Jr. was invented the first true biosensor for oxygen detection in
blood, water and other liquid.
• Hence he is called as "Father of Biosensors".

3. BIOSENSOR:
• Biosensors can be defined as analytical devices which contain a combination of biological
detecting elements like sensor system and a transducer.
• A biosensor is an analytical device which converts a biological reaction into an electrical
signal.
• Biosensors can aid in sustainable agriculture by providing continuous monitoring or early
detection of disease outbreaks that can be averted.

4. USES:

5. COMPONENTS OF BIOSENSOR
1. Bio-receptor
2. Electrical Interface/Transducer
3. Signal Amplifier/Signal Detector
4. Signal Processor
5. Electronic Display

7. USES OF THE COMPONENTS:
• Bio-receptors are biological materials such as tissues, cell receptors, antibodies,
microorganisms, enzymes, nucleic acids, and organelles.
• Transducer: Bio-receptors send a response to the transducer element which
generates an electrical or digital signal.
• Amplifier: The electrical signals are detected and amplified by a signal amplifier
which sends the amplified signals to signal the processor.
• Signals are finally converted into an electrical display after going through
processing steps.

8. PRINCIPLES OF BIOSENSOR
• Immobilization of biological material
• Surface treatment to the transducer
• Interaction of analyte with biological material
• Conversion of biological signal
• Amplification of signal

9. WORKING OF BIOSENSOR

10. BASIC CHARACTERISTICS:
There are four basic characteristics:
 Linearity should be high for the detection of high substrate concentration.
 Sensitivity importance of electrode response per substrate concentration.
 Selectivity chemical interference must be minimized for obtaining correct
Result.
 Response time necessary for having 95% of the response.

11. TYPES OF BIOSENSOR:
Transducer type Biosensor type Application
Electrochemical Potentiometric Urea, CO2, pesticide, sugar, pH determination
Conductometric Environmental contamination,
pesticide, and heavy metal detection
Amperometric Organophosphate pesticide, pathogen detection
Impedimetric Peptide, small protein, milk toxin, and food borne pathogen detection

12. Optical Bioluminescent Heavy metal detection, food toxicant, pathogen study.
Fluorescence BOD measurement, water availability to plants, pathogen detection
Colorimetric Water and food borne pathogen detection
Surface Plasmon Resonance
(SPR)
Livestock disease diagnosis, drug residue testing, toxic gas monitoring
Piezoelectric Quartz Crystal
Microbalance (QCM), Surface
Acoustic Wave (SAW)
Humidity, food safety, organophosphate and carbamate pesticide detection,
glucose monitoring
Thermal Thermistor Organophosphate pesticide, water and food pathogen detection

13. SOIL TESTER SENSOR

14. Wireless Sensor Network (WSN):
Nowadays, wireless sensor networks (WSN) are widely used in agriculture monitoring to improve the quality and
productivity of farming. In this application, sensors gather different types of data (i.e., humidity, carbon dioxide level, and
temperature) in real-time scenarios

15. Big data analysis :
Big data provides farmers granular data on rainfall patterns, water cycles, fertilizer requirements, and more. This enables
them to make smart decisions, such as what crops to plant for better profitability and when to harvest. The right decisions
ultimately improve farm yields.

16. BIOSENSORS IN AGRICULTURE:
• Agriculture includes the production of crops and the rearing of livestock producing
different products which are used in daily life.
• These elements have always been disposed to damage in the form of pests and diseases
causing a loss in the profits.
• Hence, a way of increasing profits would be to decrease the loss of crops and livestock by
such natural threats.
• With the advancement in bioterrorism, the need for biosecurity becomes necessary. Also,
the need for biosecurity is necessary when agricultural produce or any living object is to
be transported across international borders.

17. • A concentration of herbicides, pesticides and heavy metals in agricultural lands is
increasing and this is a matter of concern.
• Biosensors can play a major role in this field as they provide rapid and specific detection
compared to the older techniques.
• Biosensors can be used to compute the levels of pesticides, herbicide, and heavy metals in
the soil and groundwater.
• Biosensors can be used to forecast the possible occurrence of soil disease, which has not
been feasible with the existing technology.

18. • By comparing two data it can be possible to quantitatively decide which microbe favors
the soil. It is feasible, therefore, to predict whether or not soil disease is prepared to break
out in the tested soil beforehand.
• Nitrate biosensor has been developed for the detection of the quantity of nitrate present in
the soil.
• Enzyme biosensors have been used to identify traces of organophosphates and carbamates
from pesticides.

19. • The basic principle of soil diagnosis with the biosensor is to approximate the relative
activity of “good microbes” and “bad microbes” in the soil on the source of quantitative
measurement of differential oxygen consumption in the respiration of two types of soil
microorganisms.
• The biological diagnosis of soil using biosensor means opening the approach to reliable
prevention and decontamination of soil disease at an earlier stage.

20. USAGE OF BIOSENSOR:

21. 1. Planting:
• Climate and environment are important factors that affect crop yields, but with the
development of intensive agriculture, these factors can be artificially improved to a
certain degree, and a series of commercial sensors.
• Biosensors can be used in planting to monitor and optimize various aspects of crop
growth and health.
• This can help farmers optimize the use of fertilizers and water, and improve the yield and
quality of the crops.
• Biosensors can also be used to detect the presence of pests and diseases.

22. • This can help farmers take timely action to prevent or control the spread of the infestation,
and minimize the use of pesticides or other chemicals.
• Biosensors can be used to monitor the effectiveness of different planting techniques, such
as irrigation or fertilization, and provide feedback on the most efficient and sustainable
practices.
• This can help farmers reduce their environmental footprint and improve the sustainability
of their operations.

23. 2.LIVESTOCKS:
• Disease diagnosis, health monitoring, disease prevention, and control are important in this
regard of livestock farming, especially the infectious diseases and wildlife pose a serious
threat to human health, while biosensors are playing an important role as a rapid
diagnostic tool.
• Biosensors can be useful in livestock to monitor the health and well-being of the birds, as
well as to optimize their growth and productivity. Here are some examples of how biosensors
can be used in a livestock farm:
• Monitoring of vital signs: Biosensors can be used to monitor the heart rate, respiration
rate, and body temperature of the birds. This can help identify any signs of stress or
illness, and allow for prompt intervention.

24.  Detection of diseases: Biosensors can be used to detect the presence of pathogens and
diseases in the birds, such as avian influenza or Newcastle disease. Early detection can
help prevent the spread of disease and reduce the need for antibiotics.
 Feed optimization: Biosensors can be used to monitor the feed intake and digestion of
the birds. This can help optimize the feed formulation and feeding schedule to ensure the
birds are receiving the proper nutrients and energy.
 Environmental monitoring: Biosensors can be used to monitor the temperature,
humidity, and air quality in the Livestock house. This can help identify any potential
issues with the environment that may be affecting the health and growth of the birds.

25. 3. PACKAGING AND PRODUCTION:
• It was reported that about 30% of the annual world food produced was wasted, and part of
this was due to improper production and packaging.
• Biosensors plays an important role in production environment control and intelligent food
packaging.
• In packaging, biosensors can be used to monitor the quality and safety of food products
during storage and transportation.
• This can help prevent foodborne illnesses and ensure the freshness and quality of the food.
• Biosensors can also detect the presence of pathogens or pests in the crops, and help
farmers take timely actions to prevent or control the infestation.

26. • Overall, the usage of biosensors in packaging and production of agricultural produces can
improve the safety, quality, and efficiency of the food supply chain, while reducing waste
and environmental impact.
• However, only a few of these sensors have been used in some specific high-value food
packaging at present, but most of the reported sensors were either expensive or lack
practicality, which may be a key point that needs to be solved urgently in the future.
• Meanwhile, we believed that if the cost of sensors that have been commercialized can be
adequately reduced, they will be used more widely, decreasing food safety issues and
waste.

27. 4. STORAGE AND TRANSPORT:
• Biosensors can be used in storage and transport of agricultural produce to monitor and
maintain the quality and safety of the products.
• Biosensors can detect the presence of microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses
that can cause spoilage or contamination of the produce.
• It reduces waste, and improve the efficiency of the supply chain and the multi-sensors
system can effectively ensure post-harvest quality monitoring and cold chain management
of agricultural products

28. 5. SALES AND CONSUMPTION:
Biosensors can be used in the sales and consumption of agricultural produce in various
ways, such as:
 Quality control: Biosensors can be used to test the quality and freshness of agricultural
produce, such as fruits and vegetables, by detecting specific biomolecules, such as
enzymes or metabolites, that are indicative of spoilage or contamination. This
information can be used to ensure that only high-quality produce is sold to consumers,
which can improve sales and customer satisfaction.
 Safety testing: Biosensors can also be used to detect harmful pathogens, such as E. coli
or Salmonella, in agricultural produce. This can help to prevent outbreaks of foodborne
illnesses and ensure that only safe products are sold to consumers, which can improve
trust and loyalty among customers.

29.  Traceability: Biosensors can be used to track the origin and production history of
agricultural produce, such as through the detection of specific genetic markers or
chemical signatures. This can help to establish a more transparent and trustworthy supply
chain, which can improve sales and customer loyalty.
 Shelf-life estimation: Biosensors can also be used to estimate the shelf-life of
agricultural produce by monitoring changes in biomolecules that occur during spoilage
or decay. This information can be used to optimize storage and distribution practices,
which can reduce waste and improve sales.

30. APPLICATIONS OF BIOSENSORS:
 Biosensors have a very wide range of applications that aim to develop the quality of life.
 This range covers their use for environmental monitoring, disease recognition, food
safety, defense, drug discovery and many more.
 Biosensors can be used as platforms for monitoring food traceability, quality, safety, and
nutritional value.
 These applications fall into the group of ‘single shot’ analysis tools, i.e. where cost-
effective and disposable sensing platforms are required for the application.
 An application such as pollution monitoring requires a biosensor to function from a few
hours to several days.

31. ADVANTAGES:
• It gives specific and accurate readings.
• It is easy to handle.
• It can also measure non-polar molecules.
• There is no need of continuous monitoring.
• It is a sophisticated tool for the detection and monitoring phytopathogens

32. DISADVANTAGES:
• High cost
• It is to be handled very carefully
• It is highly sensitive which affects accuracy and reliability.
• It need regular calibration to maintain their accuracy and reliability, which can be
challenging in field setting.

33. BIOSENSOR FOR FOOD SAFETY:
• Quality assurance and safety of food during manufacturing process are the essential
requirements to preserve the quality of foods while preventing contamination and spread of
foodborne illness.
• Food safety and quality relates to the microbiological, toxicological, chemical, physical
characteristics of foods, which have to be ensured to guarantee in an acceptable level for
adequate protection to consumers.
• Conventional methods have an important role in evaluating the safety and quality of foods, but
they require highly trained staff and long procedures that limit their use for routine analysis.
The demand for rapid, sensitive, and accurate measurements has been continuously rising in
evaluating of food quality and safety during and after food processing.

34. • Recent challenges like food safety and security and climate changes are very important
and need advanced scientific interventions such as nanotechnology to resolve human
health, growth, and development.
• In this regard, nutritious food is very important in the diet with economical, safe, and
sufficient.
• However, our diet is contaminated, i.e. not safe and secure so it requires food safety and
food security measures.

35. SOME EXAMPLES OF BIOSENSORS IN FOOD
SAFETY:
 Pathogen detection: Biosensors can be used to detect the presence of bacterial or viral
pathogens in food, such as Salmonella, Listeria, or E. coli. These biosensors can be based
on DNA or protein detection, and can provide results in as little as a few hours.
 Allergen detection: Biosensors can be used to detect the presence of allergens in food,
such as peanuts, gluten, or milk. These biosensors can be based on immunological or
DNA-based methods, and can provide results in as little as a few minutes.
• Toxin detection: Biosensors can be used to detect the presence of toxins in food, such as
mycotoxins or heavy metals. These biosensors can be based on electrochemical or optical
detection, and can provide results in as little as a few minutes.

36.  Quality control: Biosensors can be used for quality control in the food industry, such as
measuring the freshness of meat or the alcohol content of beverages. These biosensors
can be based on enzyme detection or electrochemical detection, and can provide results
in real-time.
 Food fraud detection: Biosensors can be used to detect food fraud, such as the presence
of adulterants or counterfeit products. These biosensors can be based on DNA or
chemical detection, and can provide results in as little as a few hours.

37. ROLE OF AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION IN
PROMOTING BIOSENSOR IN AGRICULTURE:
• Agricultural extension services play a critical role in the adoption and use of biosensors in
agriculture.
• However, many farmers may not be familiar with the technology or may not know how to
use it effectively. This is where agricultural extension services come in.
• Agricultural extension workers can educate farmers about the benefits of biosensors, how
to use them, and how to interpret the data they provide.
• Extension workers can also help farmers identify the most appropriate biosensor
technology for their specific needs and provide training on how to use and maintain the
biosensors.

38. • Moreover, agricultural extension services can assist in the development and adaptation of
biosensor technologies to suit local conditions and needs.
• Extension workers can work with research institutions and biosensor manufacturers to
ensure that the technologies are appropriate for local conditions and that they meet the
needs of farmers.
• Agricultural extension services are critical in promoting the adoption and effective use of
biosensors in agriculture.
• Extension workers can help farmers understand and use the technology, assist in the
development of appropriate biosensor technologies, and collect and analyze data
generated by the biosensors to improve agricultural productivity and sustainability.

39. • Extension specialists may also give researchers and businesses input on the applicability
and value of biosensors, which can assist direct future research and development efforts.
• Agricultural extension services can address these barriers by providing farmers with the
necessary information, training, and technical support to effectively adopt and use
biosensors.
• They can offer instruction on how to operate, maintain, and interpret biosensors and the data they
produce.

40. The ways by which agricultural extension services can
promote the use of biosensors in agriculture:
 Raising awareness: Agricultural extension workers can raise awareness about the
benefits of biosensors among farmers and other stakeholders in the agricultural value
chain. This can be done through various communication channels, such as workshops,
field demonstrations, and educational materials.
 Technology transfer: Agricultural extension services can facilitate the transfer of
biosensor technology to farmers by working with research institutions and biosensor
manufacturers. This can include identifying appropriate technologies for local conditions
and needs, organizing training and demonstrations, and providing technical support.

41.  Capacity building: Agricultural extension workers can provide training and technical
support to farmers to help them use and maintain biosensors effectively. This can include
training on data collection and analysis, troubleshooting, and maintenance of the
biosensors.
 Data management: Agricultural extension services can help farmers manage the data
generated by biosensors by providing tools and support for data collection, storage, and
analysis. This can help farmers to make informed decisions about crop management, soil
and water conservation, and disease prevention.

42. S. No Conventional agriculture Biosensor based agriculture
1. It is done in small scale cultivation It is done in large scale cultivation
2. It needs some basic agricultural knowledge. It need skill based knowledge and computer operating
specialized person.
3. No installation charges Installation charges are high
4. It cannot identify the accurate data and information
for nutrient requirement.
It provides accurate data and information such as
nutrient requirement, irrigation management, pest and
diseases control.
5. It is a man made process It is computer based process
6. The cost of cultivation is high The cost of cultivation is low

43. FUTURE PERSPECTIVES:
• Biosensors have been a rapidly growing field in the last ten years or so, but regrettably,
only a handful of biosensors addressing sustainable agriculture challenges have been
reported, and the trend in recent publications continues to be the use of well-established
sensor principles to detect classical food contaminants like pathogens, antibiotics, toxins,
etc.
• On the bright side, the commercial sensors technology may be sufficient in existing
scenarios, so it is more important to innovate at the integrated application level.
• The problems of anti-interference, self-calibration, and long-term monitoring that have
been plaguing our biosensors still need to be paid attention to.

44. • The agrifood nanotechnology gives benefits to our farmers through food production and
food industry via food processing, preservation, and packaging.
• Improved detection of food pathogens, pesticides, antibiotics, and food contaminants have
to be done by using nanobiosensors toward food safety otherwise they will pose a threat to
human health.
• Nanobiosensors in agriculture not only detect biological analyte present in agricultural
food but also produce quality food to meet the local and global demands.

45. • Farmers can perform field analysis in fast, accurate, and cost-effective ways using
biosensors with nanoparticles.
• Using nanomaterials in biosensors becomes more advantageous for pathogen detection
particularly in fields like healthcare, food industry, and agriculture.
• Commercial exposure essentially expands future scope. Transducer hardware can be
upgraded with ‘carbon’ nano architecture resulting improved electrochemical signal
transduction.

46. • Future research on new nanomaterials can be a relevant tool in the development of new
biosensors for various purposes, always to improve the characteristics that make them as
attractive as their low cost and time of analysis, outstanding sensitivity and selectivity, as
well as its ability to be transportable.
• Quantam Dot method is another fast-growing technology where fluorescent nanocrystals
are used as semiconductor to measure pathogens in water.
• Hyperspectral sensors can be equipped with bio-molecules to enhance sensitivity and
minimize error towards sensing.

47. CONCLUSION:
• The present microbiological and molecular methods for pathogen detection are time-
consuming, expensive, relatively insensitive, and entirely laboratory-based.
• Hence, cost-effective, sensitive, and specific detection techniques suitable for field diagnosis
are highly desired.
• Besides, the biosensor technology exhibits high sensitivity and specificity and thus, can serve
as good detector of pathogens with unprocessed or crude samples.
• We believe that the biosensor technology is of high potential interest for in-field applications
and exhibits great advantages over other techniques in terms of time, simplicity, and
quantitative analysis.