# Indian-origin teen wins top scientist award for AI pesticide detector

2026-08-10T07:59:44+00:00 | Sports | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 1 independent outlet

Sirish Subash, a 14-year-old Indian-origin ninth grader from Snellville, Georgia, won the America’s Top Young Scientist title in October 2024 for inventing PestiSCAND, a handheld AI-powered device that detects pesticide residues on fruits and vegetables. The competition, run by 3M and Discovery Education, awarded him $25,000. Subash tested the device on spinach and tomatoes, achieving over 85% accuracy, according to 3M. He designed it to be used after washing, giving consumers an extra check. The device started as a larger machine before he shrunk it to a portable, Bluetooth-enabled version. Subash drew on FDA data showing 70.6% of produce samples contain residues, but his project is not a medical device, it is an early-stage detection tool.

## Coverage

- timesofindia.indiatimes.com <https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/science/meet-sirish-subash-the-14-year-old-who-invented-an-ai-powered-pesticide-detector-for-fruits-and-vegetables-and-won-25000/articleshow/133086119.cms>
- economictimes.indiatimes.com <https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/new-updates/how-a-ninth-grader-from-georgia-created-a-device-to-detect-pesticides-in-fruits-and-veggies-and-won-25000/articleshow/133089959.cms>

Tags: AI, food safety, Georgia, innovation, pesticide detection, student science
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