Students Create Pesticide Detection Kit to Ensure Food Safety
As food safety becomes a growing concern worldwide, a group of students from Yersin University of Da Lat has turned compassion into innovation with their startup project: “Test Kit – Detecting Pesticide Residues in Food.”
From Compassionate Idea to Practical Solution
The project was developed by To Quynh Trang, Dang Hoang Phuc, and Le Thi My Linh, third-year students majoring in Plant Biotechnology. After four months of research in the lab, the team successfully produced a prototype test kit that helps detect pesticide residues in food.
Trang shared that the idea came from distressing news about food poisoning cases:
“We were heartbroken to see children and women suffering from contaminated food. That motivated us to create something that could protect our community’s health.”
The three classmates, who share a passion for science and innovation, decided to develop a simple, affordable, and user-friendly rapid test kit that allows anyone to check food safety at home.
Unlike conventional lab-based methods, the kit uses a biochemical color-change reaction to detect pesticide residues within 10–30 minutes, providing visible results to the naked eye without specialized equipment.
High Applicability and Commercial Potential
The kit can identify various common pesticide groups found in vegetables, fruits, rice, and fresh foods. It is suitable not only for household use but also for supermarkets, wholesale markets, food producers, and quality control agencies.
The team focuses on keeping production costs low to make the product widely accessible. They are currently refining the reaction components and testing the kit on different food samples to improve sensitivity and accuracy.
According to Dr. Tran Thi Bao Tram, lecturer in Biotechnology at Yersin University of Da Lat:
“This research demonstrates strong practical value and real-world relevance. The students have shown scientific rigor, creativity, and the ability to apply biotechnology knowledge effectively. The product has great potential for further development.”
Recognition and Future Prospects
The project has achieved notable success, winning Second Prize at the 8th Lam Dong Youth Innovation and Startup Contest and making it into the Top 30 national finalists at the 2025 Rural Youth Startup Contest.
These achievements not only reward their dedication but also open doors to partnerships and pilot-scale production.
“We hope our kit will soon be used in everyday life, empowering people to choose cleaner, safer food. It’s our small contribution to a healthier society,” Trang said with a smile.