Volatile AI – plant pest detection with AI-driven VOC fingerprinting

Founded in 2019 and with offices in Vilnius, Lithuania, and Cambridge, UK, Volatile AI is a pioneering SME working on AI-enhanced volatile organic compound (VOC) detection. With the mission to digitize the invisible world of molecules and smells by developing smart, portable sensing technologies, they bring lab-grade chemical analysis into real-world environments.

As a key technical partner in the PurPest project, Volatile AI contributes advanced gas-sensing systems, data analysis, and machine learning infrastructure to the development of the Sensor System Prototype (SSP). The SSP is an innovative tool for the early detection of plant pests. The SSP works by capturing and analyzing VOC signatures emitted by plants under biotic stress, with Volatile's technology playing a central role in interpreting pest-related chemical biomarkers in complex datasets.

Working closely with all project partners, they support the design and implementation of laboratory and field trials to validate system performance across diverse environmental and pest scenarios.

The AI-powered VOC fingerprinting transforms raw chemical signals into actionable insights, developing the SSP to serve as a practical tool for farmers, customs officials, plant health authorities, and researchers seeking timely and scalable pest detection solutions. By combining cutting-edge sensing technologies with intelligent data analysis, Volatile AI ensures that the PurPest Sensor System Prototype delivers on its promise of smarter, faster, and field-ready plant pest monitoring.