Researchers from SMART Interdisciplinary Research Group (IRG) Disruptive & Sustainable Technologies for Agricultural Precision (DiSTAP) participated in the 12th Singapore International Chemistry Conference, held in conjunction with the Angewandte Chemie Symposium 2024, from 9 - 13 December 2024.
Centred on the theme “Building Chemistry: Bridging Disciplines,” the conference delved into organic, organometallic, inorganic, and material chemistry. It drew over 1,800 participants from 32 countries and boasted an esteemed lineup of speakers, including Nobel Laureate Professor Aaron Ciechanover, who delivered the opening plenary talk.
Professor Michael Strano presenting on “Nanosensor Technology for Addressing Problems in Agriculture”
DiSTAP researchers showcased their groundbreaking nanosensor technology based on the concept of corona phase molecular recognition (CoPhMoRe) pioneered by the Strano Lab at SMART DiSTAP and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), which are designed to advance plant stress monitoring and provide real-time, actionable insights. Professor Michael Strano, Co-Lead Principal Investigator at DiSTAP, shared more on the nanosensors and its impact in a keynote presentation on “Nanosensor Technology for Addressing Problems in Agriculture” in Symposium 10, titled ‘Food Science and Chemistry’.
Dr Mervin Ang at the 12th Singapore International Chemistry Conference
In Symposium 3, titled ‘Analytical Chemistry and Sensors’, Dr Mervin Chun-Yi Ang, Associate Scientific Director & Principal Research Scientist at DiSTAP, delivered a talk on “Decoding Early Stress Signaling Waves in Living Plants using Nanosensor Multiplexing”. He introduced a technology pioneered by DiSTAP to multiplex or combine sensors for simultaneous and real-time tracking of multiple plant hormone profiles and chemical signals. Dr Tedrick Lew, Assistant Professor, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Collaborator at SMART DiSTAP, also gave a talk on “Optical nanosensors to monitor stress-associated molecules in living plants” based on research findings from a DiSTAP research paper and shared insights into how the nanosensors enable the early detection of plant stress for timely intervention to mitigate crop loss.
As global food security becomes increasingly threatened by climate change and population growth, such innovations are essential for helping farmers optimise growth conditions and adopt sustainable agricultural practices. By enabling early detection of plant stress and facilitating timely interventions, these nanosensors not only contribute to mitigating crop loss but also promote a more secure and sustainable global food supply.
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