Ensuring that the food we eat is safe is a challenge that affects every person on the planet, but the authors explain that we still need better and more affordable ways to detect hidden contaminants.
While food safety remains a major hurdle for human health, the researchers point out that biosensors have long been viewed as a key part of the solution. They emphasize that recent breakthroughs in nanotechnology, miniaturization, and the Internet of Things are now boosting these tools to a level where they will certainly play a leading role in addressing global food risks.
However, the study highlights a surprising gap: most of this technology has not yet been adapted to work across the entire food supply chain, often neglecting important areas like sustainable farming practices and the prevention of food fraud. In this review, the authors look at the most recent developments from 2015 to 2019 to show how biosensors are finally beginning to tackle these broader issues.
Ultimately, they argue that we need new, integrated strategies to move these tools into the global market, ensuring that our food systems are not only safe but also sustainably managed from start to finish.
Learn more about this study here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trac.2020.115906
Reference:
Griesche, C., & Baeumner, A. J. (2020). Biosensors to support sustainable agriculture and food safety. TrAC Trends in Analytical Chemistry, 128, 115906.