14-year-old Sirish Subash built an AI-powered pesticide detector
14-year-old Sirish Subash has developed PestiSCAND, an AI-powered handheld device that detects pesticide residues on produce. The invention earned him the title of America’s Top Young Scientist and is intended to be used as a supplemental safety check alongside washing fruits and vegetables.
Why it matters
This innovation highlights the potential for accessible AI technology to improve consumer food safety and public health awareness.
A 14-year-old Georgia student has turned a common kitchen concern into an award-winning science project. Sirish Subash, a ninth grader from Snellville, built PestiSCAND, a handheld device designed to detect pesticide residues on fruits and vegetables. As reported by USA Today, his invention earned him the title of America’s Top Young Scientist in October 2024, along with a $25,000 prize in the annual 3M and Discovery Education competition. Subash developed the device after becoming interested in the difficulty consumers face in knowing what may remain on produce even after it has been washed. Reportedly, using artificial intelligence, PestiSCAND was tested on spinach and tomatoes and recorded accuracy of more than 85%, according to 3M.
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