DiSTAP Showcases Cutting-Edge AI and Sensor Tech at Food@CREATE Seminar

On 13 March 2025, researchers from SMART's Interdisciplinary Research Group (IRG), Disruptive & Sustainable Technologies for Agricultural Precision (DiSTAP), showcased their research at the Food@CREATE Seminar Series—an event focused on shaping the future of food science and technology. Hosted by the Campus for Research Excellence and Technological Enterprise (CREATE), the seminar brought together leading global research institutions to share breakthroughs and explore new collaborations.

The event began with a welcome address by Dr Ngin Hoon Tong from the Singapore Food Agency (SFA), followed by a keynote speech by Mr Hou Zhisheng, also from SFA. It also featured project introductions by principal investigators from prominent research institutions, including Illinois ARCS (PreFerS), SHARE (CellAg), TUMCREATE (P4SG), Wageningen University & Research (SingFarms) and SMART DiSTAP.

Representing SMART, Prof Giovanni Volpe, Principal Investigator of the Computational Thrust at SMART DiSTAP and Professor at the University of Gothenburg, highlighted the group’s focus on AI-driven, data-centric agriculture. In his project introduction, he explored how AI, paired with advanced agricultural sensor technologies, can transform farming through predictive capabilities. He was also a key participant in the panel discussion on “The Present and Future of Food Research in Singapore”, sharing insights on how AI can support predictive management in agriculture and how Singapore fosters an inclusive ecosystem for research collaboration and innovation. 

Prof Giovanni Volpe delivering his keynote presentation at the Food@CREATE Seminar Series on 13 March 2025 (Photo: SMART DiSTAP)

Dr Anoop Patil, Research Scientist at SMART DiSTAP, presented the IRG’s AI tools for plant health monitoring. His talk showcased innovations like an automated AI workflow for Raman spectral processing to detect plant stress and an image-based analysis for detecting and assessing nutrient deficiencies in plants from leaf images. Dr Duc Thinh Khong, Research Scientist at SMART DiSTAP, gave a talk on nanosensors embedded in plant tissue that provide real-time monitoring of plant hormones, offering a leap forward in early diagnostics of plant health.

Looking to the future, Prof Volpe introduced a strategic white paper initiative aimed at shaping future research directions in plant health, sensor technologies, and AI—while exploring new funding opportunities to support these efforts.

The seminar also featured a poster showcase of SMART DiSTAP’s cutting-edge technologies. Representing the IRG, Dr Raju Cheerlavancha, Research Scientist, presented a microneedle-based platform for detecting plant hormones under biotic and abiotic stress; Dr Ekta Jain, Senior Postdoctoral Associate, showcased remote Raman spectroscopy; and Ms Ganga Sravanthi Cheerlavancha, Research Engineer, presented Raman tags for detecting subcellular organelles in plants.

Through its participation at the seminar, SMART DiSTAP reaffirmed its mission to pioneer sustainable agricultural solutions using AI and sensor technologies. Its work continues to play a vital role in advancing Singapore’s agri-tech capabilities and addressing global food challenges through science and innovation.