1. The Indian tea industry faces stringent FSSAI standards for pesticide levels, making compliance crucial.
2. TAn AI-based rapid screening platform is set to revolutionize pesticide detection in green tea leaves.
3. This advancement offers significant benefits for the Indian tea industry.
Guwahati, July 15: The Indian tea industry is grappling with stringent FSSAI standards for permissible levels of pesticides and chemicals, prompting heightened monitoring and testing by government agencies. Compliance has become a top priority.
A new AI-based rapid screening platform is set to revolutionize pesticide detection in green tea leaves, offering a significant advancement for the Indian tea industry.
In a pioneering collaboration, the Tea Research Association (TRA) Tocklai, Kolkata, and Arogyam Medisoft Solution Pvt Ltd, a deep-tech digital life sciences company, have completed the first phase of validating ACLIVIA for Tea. ACLIVIA is the brand name of the product developed by Arogyam Medisoft Solution Pvt Ltd.
“Pesticide residue testing of green leaf before production is key to making the entire tea supply chain compliant. ACLIVIA for tea is a first of its kind for the global tea industry,” said Joydeep Phukan, Secretary of TRA.
The ACLIVIA device, no bigger than a book and weighing just 500 grams, can rapidly detect pesticide residues and other contaminants in just 2 to 30 minutes.
Also Read: Lautaro Martinez’s Late Goal Secures Argentina’s Record 16th Copa America Title with 1-0 Win Over Colombia in Extra Time
It is portable, easy to use, and capable of transmitting data to a cloud-based server when connected to the internet.
Configured to screen for various pesticides, including Monocrotophos, Fipronil, Cypermethrin, Acephate, Imidacloprid, and Acetamiprid, ACLIVIA is a groundbreaking innovation for the global tea industry.
The analytical performance of ACLIVIA has been studied on water and green tea leaf for the rapid detection of Monocrotophos at TLabs, Tea Research Association, Kolkata.
The results were compared with LC-MS/GC-MS results, and the device successfully determined pesticide residue at 10 parts per billion.
The kit is now available for deployment at bought leaf factories, other manufacturing points, and mobile testing vans.
“Rapid detection of pesticide residue in tea at the green leaf stage is crucial for serving a safe cup of tea to consumers. ACLIVIA is a compact, user-friendly solution that will be invaluable in producing chemical-compliant teas,” said Atul Rastogi, CEO of Luxmi Tea Co.
The core biosensing technology was developed by an R&D group at the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) in Kolkata and transferred to Arogyam Medisoft for commercialization.
C-DAC expressed satisfaction with the successful trials and acknowledged the support from the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) and the C-SPARK initiative of C-DAC.
“Other kits struggle to reach the regulatory limit for detection at 10 parts per billion, whereas this device can satisfactorily detect Monocrotophos up to 5 parts per billion in green tea leaves,” said Bappaditya Kanrar, a scientist at the Tea Research Association.
The cost of the device ranges from Rs 1.3 to 3.5 lakh based on the variant, from single-channel to multi-channel. Each analysis costs Rs 150.
“The launch of ACLIVIA marks a significant milestone in our commitment to enhancing food safety through innovative technology,” said Partha Chakraborty, Chief Scientific Officer of Arogyam Medisoft Solution.
“Our collaboration with TRA Tocklai, Luxmi Tea, and C-DAC has been instrumental in successfully validating ACLIVIA for Tea. We are proud to offer a solution that addresses the critical need for rapid pesticide residue detection and empowers tea growers and producers to safeguard their products and consumers effectively,” he added.
