Overview: How does our project achieve SDGs?

Our project, centered around the PestiGuard biosensor, is built on a foundation of sustainability, driving engagement and measurable change across eight critical UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

SDG 2: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture

Our PestiGuard biosensor directly supports the shift towards sustainable agriculture and achieving food security by acting as a critical tool for transparency and quality control. By providing a method for detecting pesticide residues in agricultural products, the project helps verify food safety at various points in the supply chain, from the farm to the consumer's table. Reducing reliance on and exposure to harmful pesticides is paramount to building healthier, more resilient food systems. Ultimately, the project contributes to improved nutrition by ensuring the food supply is not only abundant but also safer and healthier for all.

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being

Within its specifications, we contribute to goal 3.9: “By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water, and soil pollution and contamination.” The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that about one million unintentional pesticide poisonings with severe manifestations occur annually [1], with a significant portion of cases going unreported or underestimated. The major challenge is that the exposure to chemicals in pesticides is often invisible and silent. By detecting harmful pesticide residues on the food and taking food safety into our own hands, the PestiGuard biosensor prevents exposure to hazardous chemicals. Therefore, reducing the risk of both acute poisoning and chronic health effects like cancers, neurological disorders, and endocrine disruption linked to pesticide accumulation [2]. Besides, the act of testing and seeing a visual result creates a connection between the abstract concept of "pesticide residue" and the food on one's plate, raising public awareness about agricultural practices. Through these initiatives, we actively contribute to building a healthier future for all, directly supporting the core mission of SDG 3.

SDG 4: Quality Education

Our comprehensive educational program is meticulously designed to foster a deep-rooted interest in synthetic biology and raise critical awareness about pesticide residues. We engage a diverse audience, from kindergarteners to secondary school students, through a hands-on, multi-tiered approach.

To solidify this learning journey, we have developed a series of custom-designed, visually engaging booklets that serve as personal guides for each student. These booklets progressively build knowledge, from introductory concepts for younger minds to detailed workflows of genetic engineering for advanced students, making complex topics accessible and exciting. In addition, we have also made videos on YouTube and Instagram, teaching laboratory safety, modelling and biology textbook knowledge related to biotechnology, targeting the general public. This practical immersion demystifies complex scientific concepts, empowering students to see themselves as capable biologists. Crucially, interactive quizzes woven throughout the program and upon completion of the booklets reinforce key learnings, provide immediate feedback, and foster a sense of accomplishment. This structured yet playful approach—' learn, apply, and validate' — is key to nurturing a genuine and lasting passion for biology. Concurrently, our targeted campaigns—including charity sales supporting sustainable food systems and lunchtime activities—translate this scientific awareness into tangible social action, effectively bridging the gap between laboratory science, agricultural practice, and community responsibility. This holistic strategy, strengthened by our tailored educational materials and engaging assessments, ensures we are not only cultivating the next generation of scientists but also actively inspiring the younger generation to become the world-changing scientists of tomorrow. By transforming abstract concepts into tangible problems they can solve today, we equip them with the knowledge, confidence, and passion to make healthier, more sustainable choices and to drive the innovations our world needs.

SDG 6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all

Water contamination from agricultural runoff, particularly from pesticides, poses a significant global threat to the availability of clean water [3]. The PestiGuard biosensor offers a crucial tool for ensuring water quality, directly supporting the sustainable management of this vital resource. By allowing detection of pesticide residues, our project facilitates proactive measures. This data enables stakeholders and policymakers to enforce regulations, minimize harmful runoff, and promote sustainable agricultural practices that safeguard water sources. In regions facing water scarcity, contaminated water exacerbates health issues; thus, our ability to help ensure safe drinking and irrigation water is a direct and impactful contribution to achieving clean water and sanitation for all.

SDG 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts

Food systems contribute over a third of the world's GHG emissions, with pesticides being a significant factor. This problem is expected to become a vicious cycle: as climate change worsens, the need for pesticides will increase, creating a stronger dependency that further accelerates climate breakdown [4]. Our project supports the effort to combat climate change by promoting sustainable pesticide management, which can reduce environmental damage and enhance agricultural resilience. By providing a market incentive to optimize and reduce pesticide application, the PestiGuard biosensor helps lower the carbon footprint associated with their use. Moreover, a healthier ecosystem—one with reduced chemical exposure—enhances the resilience of farming practices against the impacts of climate change, such as increased pest outbreaks and unpredictable weather patterns. This active encouragement of sustainable practices contributes directly to the global urgency of climate action.

SDG 15: Life on Land

Pesticides, while designed to protect crops, function as broad-spectrum pollutants that inflict profound damage on terrestrial ecosystems [5]. Their impact extends far beyond the target pests, initiating a cascade of detrimental effects on soil health and non-target organisms. In the soil, pesticides disrupt the delicate balance of microbial communities and beneficial fauna, such as earthworms, which are vital for nutrient cycling, soil structure, and fertility. This degradation leads to a reliance on further chemical inputs, creating a vicious cycle of dependency and ecological decline.

Above ground, the consequences are equally severe. Pollinators, particularly bees, suffer from acute poisoning and sublethal exposure that impairs navigation, foraging efficiency, and colony health—threatening global food security. The Task Force on Systemic Pesticides’s Worldwide Integrated Assessment (WIA) synthesised over 1,100 studies and concluded that neonicotinoid pesticides are a significant factor in bee declines and harm a wide range of beneficial terrestrial invertebrates like beetles, which are crucial for ecosystem functioning [6]. Furthermore, pesticides accumulate in the food web, harming predatory insects, birds, and other wildlife, thereby reducing biodiversity and destabilizing entire ecosystems.

Our project directly alleviates these pressures by creating a powerful market incentive for reducing pesticide use. This reduction in chemical reliance enables soil microbiomes to recover, thereby restoring natural fertility and enhancing carbon sequestration capacity. It safeguards pollinator populations, ensuring their critical role in ecosystem stability and agricultural productivity. Most importantly, it re-establishes a balanced food web, promoting biodiversity and building more resilient, self-sustaining terrestrial ecosystems. In this way, our solution not only mitigates harm but also actively fosters a future where agriculture works in harmony with nature, rather than against it.

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

PestiGuard fundamentally transforms the relationship between consumers, producers, and our planet by empowering individuals to become active participants in a sustainable food system. This simple act of testing—and choosing lower-residue produce—is a decisive vote for a healthier food supply. This market signal creates a transparent, demand-driven feedback loop where responsible farmers who invest in integrated pest management are rewarded and can verifiably demonstrate the lower chemical footprint of their harvest, enabling them to secure better prices and market access. This incentivizes a widespread shift towards integrated pest management and organic practices. Ultimately, PestiGuard does more than detect chemicals; it cultivates a new mindset of conscious consumption, fostering a collective demand that propels the entire agricultural sector away from environmentally harmful production methods and towards a genuinely sustainable future. This grassroots-powered change ensures that responsibility is not just a concept, but a practical daily action for everyone, from the farm to the dining table.

SDG 17: Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development

The successful deployment of the PestiGuard biosensor serves as a catalyst for strengthening Global Partnerships for Sustainable Development. The technology necessitates and facilitates collaboration among diverse stakeholders, including researchers, farmers, agricultural organizations, and policymakers. By sharing accessible data and insights from the biosensor, the project enables informed decision-making and the development of effective policies that support sustainable agricultural practices. Furthermore, engaging local communities and empowering farmers with both the knowledge (through education programs) and the tools (the biosensor) fosters a collective action approach. Building these robust partnerships across sectors is essential for creating a holistic and impactful approach to food security and environmental sustainability, significantly amplifying the project's contribution to all SDGs.

Reference:

[1] Boedeker, W., Watts, M., Clausing, P., & Marquez, E. (2020). The global distribution of acute unintentional pesticide poisoning: estimations based on a systematic review. BMC Public Health, 20(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-09939-0

[2] Shekhar, C., Khosya, R., Thakur, K., Mahajan, D., Kumar, R., Kumar, S., & Sharma, A. K. (2024). A systematic review of pesticide exposure, associated risks, and Long-Term human health impacts. Toxicology Reports, 13, 101840. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxrep.2024.101840

[3] Willis, G. H., & McDowell, L. L. (1982). Pesticides in agricultural runoff and their effects on downstream water quality. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 1(4), 267–279. https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.5620010402

[4] Claydon, S. (2024, November 8). Pesticides and the climate crisis - Pesticide Action Network UK. Pesticide Action Network UK. http://pan-uk.org/pesticides-and-the-climate-crisis/

[5] UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology. (n.d.). Comprehensive global study shows pesticides are major contributor to biodiversity crisis. https://www.ceh.ac.uk/press/comprehensive-global-study-shows-pesticides-are-major-contributor-biodiversity-crisis

[6] Van Lexmond, M. B., Bonmatin, J., Goulson, D., & Noome, D. A. (2014). Worldwide integrated assessment on systemic pesticides. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 22(1), 1–4. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-3220-1