Geo-tracing of Black Pepper using Metal Oxide Semiconductor Gas Sensors

Malaysia produces black pepper of superior quality, especially in the state of Sarawak. Sarawak black pepper is widely known in the global market and fetches higher price compared to its competitors. There has been arising concerns of increasing fraud products that claimed their origin to be from Sarawak for better price. Using metal oxide semiconductor gas sensors, this PhD research develops an accurate, inexpensive, rapid, portable and non-invasive geo-tracing method to establish product differentiation of black pepper by geographical origins. Therefore, the higher price of Sarawak black pepper can be justified, and its product can be authenticated against fraud.