In a groundbreaking initiative poised to revolutionize pesticide detection within the agricultural sector, researchers from the United Kingdom and Brazil have embarked on an ambitious project to harness the power of organic light-emitting materials for enhanced monitoring of harmful chemicals in food production. With pesticide contamination reaching alarming levels in Brazil—a nation renowned for its vast agricultural exports including coffee, sugar, tobacco, citrus fruits, and grains—this collaboration aims to develop sophisticated sensors capable of detecting chemical residues with unprecedented precision and speed.
Brazil’s agricultural landscape has long been intertwined with intensive pesticide and herbicide usage, a reality that has intensified over recent years. In 2021 alone, the country reported the sale of over 720,000 tonnes of pesticide ingredients, marking a troubling 5% increase from the previous year. This surge not only exacerbates chemical contamination risks across the food chain but also underscores the urgent need for innovative detection strategies. Empirical studies reveal that more than half of tested Brazilian food samples bear traces of pesticide residues, while nearly a quarter exceed legally permitted levels or contain unauthorized substances. Moreover, worrisome pesticide presence in waterways that meet national drinking standards further accentuates the scale of this environmental and public health challenge.
Responding to this pressing issue, a £200,000 grant awarded by the Royal Society is driving an interdisciplinary research collaboration between Northumbria University in the UK and the Federal University of Santa Catarina in Brazil. This partnership unites expertise in environmental contaminant detection with advanced organic optoelectronics, particularly focusing on organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs)—materials more commonly recognized for their use in next-generation television and smartphone displays. The core ambition is to repurpose OLED-related technologies as sensitive fluorescent sensors that reveal the presence of pesticides by altering their luminescence characteristics upon molecular interaction.
Central to this endeavor is the exploration of novel organic light-emitting compounds exhibiting phenomena such as aggregation-induced emission (AIE) and aggregation-induced delayed fluorescence (AIDF). These materials possess the remarkable ability to intensify their light output when molecules cluster together, as well as to emit light over extended timescales. Through leveraging these unique photophysical properties, the research team envisions creating sensor interfaces that will visibly respond to pesticide contact by glowing brighter, ceasing emission, or changing color altogether. Such optical changes offer a potentially intuitive and real-time method for detecting hazardous residues on fruits, vegetables, and other susceptible crops.
Dr. Marc Etherington, Assistant Professor of Molecular Photophysics at Northumbria University and a recognized authority on OLED systems, lends his expertise to the project. His recent investigations into fluorophores—molecules capable of both emitting and absorbing light with time-dependent delays—have been facilitated by cutting-edge spectrometers specially designed to measure these subtle photophysical behaviors. Dr. Etherington emphasizes the strategic importance of Brazil as an ideal testing ground, given its status as one of the world’s largest pesticide consumers. He envisions the project as a transformative application of OLED science, redirecting fundamental research towards an urgent global agricultural and environmental priority.
“By inverting the conventional applications of OLEDs, we are pioneering a brand-new pathway to detect and mitigate pesticide contamination,” Dr. Etherington remarks. “Success in this venture could have widespread implications beyond agriculture, potentially influencing myriad sectors that require sensitive chemical detection.” His optimism is anchored not only in the scientific potential but also in the scalable and cost-effective nature of organic light-emitting materials compared to traditional sensing technologies.
Complementing this theoretical and materials science expertise, Dr. Leonardo Furini at the Federal University of Santa Catarina brings invaluable experience in environmental contaminant analysis. With a devoted research focus on tracking toxic residues within food, water, and soil matrices, Dr. Furini highlights the critical importance of early and accurate pesticide detection to safeguard Brazil’s food security and economic interests. “The infiltration of pesticides and herbicides into our food channels poses a significant risk,” he asserts. “Our aim is to develop reliable sensing technologies that facilitate timely interventions, thereby enhancing consumer safety and protecting Brazil’s reputation in global agricultural markets.”
Supporting the project is HORIBA, a global leader in fluorescence spectrometry and sensor manufacturing, which provides not only technical expertise but also access to state-of-the-art instrumentation. Dr. Simon FitzGerald, Head of Science and Technology at HORIBA UK, notes the symbiotic potential of this collaboration: “By applying cutting-edge spectroscopic and imaging innovations to pesticide detection, we are advancing technology transfer from existing devices into impactful real-world solutions.” The partnership ensures that research outputs are grounded in practical usability, linking laboratory findings with industry-grade sensor platforms and impactful agricultural monitoring.
This project is funded through the Royal Society’s ISPF (International Science Partnership Fund) International Collaboration Awards, which promote scientific partnerships with developing nations. The award enables researchers from Brazil to travel to the UK for joint laboratory work, academic exchange, and technological skill development. This cross-continental knowledge transfer strengthens international scientific networks while facilitating the translation of research into commercial sensor technology tailored to Brazil’s unique agricultural context.
By integrating principles of molecular photophysics with tangible agricultural challenges, this interdisciplinary project pushes the boundaries of fluorescence sensing technology. The anticipated development of intuitive, organic-based OLED sensors for pesticide detection could dramatically improve contamination monitoring workflows across the food supply chain. Such innovation not only promises direct health benefits through enhanced food safety but may also contribute to environmental preservation by enabling more effective regulation of agrochemical usage.
As farming practices worldwide face mounting pressure to reduce harmful chemical residues, this pioneering research leverages the elegant science of light and molecular interactions to forge novel detection pathways. If successful, it represents a compelling case for repurposing advanced optoelectronic materials into essential tools combating chemical contamination, promising a safer and more sustainable global food system.
Subject of Research: Development of Organic Light-Emitting Materials as Sensors for Pesticide and Herbicide Detection in Agricultural Produce.
Article Title: Scientists Harness OLED Technology to Illuminate Pesticide Contamination in Brazilian Agriculture
Web References:
- Royal Society: https://royalsociety.org/
- Northumbria University: https://www.northumbria.ac.uk/
- Federal University of Santa Catarina: https://en.ufsc.br/
- HORIBA: https://www.horiba.com/gbr/
- ISPF International Collaboration Awards: https://royalsociety.org/grants/international-collaboration-awards-ispf/
Keywords: Agriculture, Pest Control, Electrical Engineering, Diodes, Organic Light-Emitting Diodes, Fluorescence Detection, Pesticide Monitoring, Food Safety, Molecular Photophysics, Environmental Contaminants, Fluorophores, Spectroscopy
