A Professor at the University of Cape Coast has developed a handheld device capable of detecting unsafe food within seconds, in what researchers describe as a significant step towards strengthening food safety systems in Ghana.
Professor Ernest Teye, an Agri-food Integrity Engineering expert at the university’s Department of Agricultural Engineering, led a team that created the device using advanced light-based sensing technology to analyse the chemical composition of food without destroying samples.
The innovation uses near-infrared spectroscopy to scan food items and detect hidden substances such as harmful chemicals, toxins and adulterants that are not visible to the human eye. Once scanned, the device compares the collected data with an inbuilt database and delivers instant feedback on a connected screen or mobile application, indicating whether the food is safe or contaminated.
Speaking at his inaugural lecture in Cape Coast on Thursday, Prof Teye said the technology could play a critical role in helping regulators, farmers and consumers identify unsafe food early and prevent health risks.
Call for national food integrity framework
Prof Teye used the occasion to call for the establishment of a national framework to safeguard food integrity, warning that food fraud remains a largely hidden threat to public health.
He expressed concern that “food fraud” could be silently endangering lives and urged stakeholders to treat food safety as a national priority, with greater public awareness.
According to him, food fraud involves the deliberate substitution, addition, tampering or misrepresentation of food, ingredients or packaging for economic gain.
He stressed that food lies at the centre of national development, adding that without safe and reliable food systems, sustainable progress would remain elusive.
Food safety and human survival
Prof Teye explained that food safety goes beyond agriculture and has direct implications for human health, economic growth and social stability.
He noted that many illnesses and deaths could be traced to unsafe or adulterated food, highlighting the need for rapid detection technologies.
“We already have the oracle within us through our senses, but science has enhanced that oracle through technology to help us detect unsafe food quickly and accurately,” he stated.
He described his research into artificial intelligence-driven solutions for food testing as a potential game-changer for improving food quality assurance across the value chain.
Concerns over unsafe agricultural inputs
The professor also raised concerns about the widespread use of substandard agricultural inputs, particularly counterfeit fertilisers and poor-quality seeds, which he said continue to undermine productivity across Africa.
Despite the continent’s vast arable land, he observed that output remains low due to weak monitoring systems and the circulation of fake inputs.
“Garbage in, garbage out. If the inputs are not right, the output will never be right,” he stressed.
He added that his team had developed additional portable technologies capable of analysing soil nutrients, detecting fake fertilisers and verifying seed quality within seconds, tools that could be deployed directly on farms to boost yields and reduce losses.
Plans for AfriFood Integrity Centre
Prof Teye disclosed plans to establish an AfriFood Integrity Centre at UCC to promote research, training and policy development in food safety and agricultural innovation.
The centre, he said, would support efforts to train farmers, develop rapid detection technologies and strengthen regulatory systems.
He called for stronger collaboration among government agencies, academia, farmers and consumers, stressing the broader significance of food integrity.
“Food is not just what we eat; it is medicine, it is health, and it is life. If we protect the integrity of our food, we protect the future of our nation,” he said.
Optimism for Ghana’s food future
Prof Teye expressed confidence that Ghana could emerge as a major food producer and exporter with the right mix of policy support, technology and innovation.
He encouraged young people and researchers to explore opportunities in agricultural innovation to build a resilient food system capable of withstanding climate change and global food challenges.
Chairing the lecture, the Acting Vice-Chancellor of UCC, Prof Denis Worlanyo Aheto, said inaugural lectures formed part of the university’s efforts to promote academic excellence and showcase research addressing national development challenges.
He noted that the university remained committed to providing platforms for scholars to share innovations that could inform policy, support industry growth and contribute to national progress.
Source:
www.graphic.com.gh