Food and Pesticides: A Quick Way to Test for Safety
Rapid Bioassay of Pesticide Residues (RBPR) in fruits and vegetables
Many developing countries in the Asian region have small farms, and farmers are mixing and spraying pesticides considerably, making residue control an almost impossible task. And while pesticide residues are monitored by chemical analysis in developed countries such as the US and Japan, the method is not practical for use in many countries in Asia. Chemical analysis, while precise, lacks speed and hence is not capable of screening residue-contaminated vegetables and fruits before they are served on the table. In most cases, chemical analysis only serves the purpose of investigation, or what is commonly known as "autopsy report".
While detailed pesticide residue monitoring is necessary, it is equally important that residue- contaminated shipments be stopped for further trading. This is the major purpose, as incorporated into the residue control mechanism, of the Rapid Bioassay of Pesticide Residue (RBPR) methodology developed in Taiwan. The public is not satisfied with pre-harvest warning alone, but demands that residue control be done in harvested produce before marketing. Hence, the Pesticide Research Laboratory of the Agricultural Research Institute (ARI) of Taiwan developed the RBPR with only one task in mind - to speed up the residue contamination test in vegetable and fruit produce.
ARI initiated the RBPR program in 1985, which proved to be very successful and had since been adopted by more than 200 stations in the island covering farmer associations, various food supply systems, and major supermarket chains. The principle of the RBPR is to detect and stop contaminated shipments before these are consumed by the public. The technology has been gradually adopted in other countries in the Asian region, particularly Korea, China and Vietnam, and in some countries in Central America.
In expanding Taiwan's technical cooperation with other Asian countries, as well as to help better promote food safety and consumer protection in the region, a training course on RBPR was conducted in the Philippines. Organized by the Laboratory Services Division (LSD) of the Bureau of Plant Industry - Department of Agriculture (BPI-DA), in coordination with FFTC and ARI-Council of Agriculture (COA), Taiwan ROC, the training course was held at the Baguio Pesticide Analytical Laboratory (Baguio-PAL), Benguet Province, Philippines last December 11-15, 2006. Scientists and experts from Taiwan served as trainers, and shared technical knowledge and information on the RBPR technology, primarily to promote food safety and consumer protection in the Philippines' largest fruit and vegetable growing province of Benguet.
The RBPR method is deemed as very suitable for adoption in Benguet, being an economic, rapid, sensitive and accurate screening process, as compared with the laborious chemical analysis method, meant to stop residue-contaminated shipments on-site, toward improving the welfare of consumers. The training on RBPR was well-attended by the BPI-LSD technical staff, representatives from its four satellite laboratories, provincial and municipal agricultural officers from different parts of Benguet province, and researchers and extension workers. It sought to enlighten or bring awareness to the participants of an effective alternative method for screening pesticide residue. The participants underwent a rigid hands-on training, in anticipation of the adoption of the RBPR technology in strategic fruit and vegetable growing areas in the Philippines.
Initial deliberations were done on the possibility of implementing a three-year project on the establishment of a pilot laboratory in vegetable and fruit growing areas in the country. Relatedly, the Baguio-PAL will serve as the training center for the enhancement of the capabilities of those who will be tapped to do the analytical services. The Philippine RBPR project, once implemented, will help minimize perennial problems on pesticide residues in various agricultural produce, thus, giving the consumers the assurance that their food is pesticide free and safe for human consumption.
Index of Images
Figure 1 Participants of the RBPR training course in Baguio City, Philippines with (seated, from left) Taiwan's ARI-COA Senior Entomologist, Dr. Edward Y. Cheng; FFTC Director Sing-Hwa Hu; and Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) Resident Representative to Taipei, Mr. Antonio I. Basilio.
Figure 2 Dr. Cheng gives a lecture-demonstration to participants during the training course on RBPR testing.
Figure 3 Fruit and vegetable samples for RBPR testing.
Figure 4 Vegetable field in Benguet province, Philippines.
