.jpg)
March
2024
Innovation Fridays: Towards Singapore Food Story
An open platform to bring NTU Innovations to Industry.
Secure your seat at https://bit.ly/NTUIF_March2024_Registration
PROGRAMME (subject to changes)
1.15pm: Registration l Interaction with Showcases
2.00pm: Welcome
2.05pm: Dairy Milk Yield Improvement using Anti-Microbial Polymer by Professor Mary Chan, School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotech, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
Bovine mastitis is the infection of the cow udder or mammary glands. It is a major problem in dairy industry with a global economic impact of >$4 billion annually. Associated failure cost is estimated at $147 per cow per year, constituting 11-18% of the gross margin of dairy farms. Antibiotics are currently used as treatment albeit with drawbacks including milk withholding, reduction in milk yield, and premature culling of uncured animals. Herein, we propose a safe, sustainable and eco-friendly solution based on the oligoimidazolium (OIM) platform technology. OIM is biodegradable and fast bactericidal in complex environments of bovine mastitis.
Represented by: Dr Zhang Kaixi, senior postdoctoral associate at Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART)
2.25pm: *Fish Spawning by Prof Joachim Loo, Associate Dean (Students), College of Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
Aquaculture is one of the fastest-growing food industries in the world, with an estimated market size of USD 265 billion (2020). Traditional artificial spawning methods involve invasive hormone injections, which are costly, labor-intensive, and pose health risks to fish, such as stress and increased mortality. Here, we introduce a non-invasive technique for hormone delivery through oral ingestion, using a patented microparticulate system to protect the hormone during digestion and ensure its release in the intestines. Preliminary tests on Asian Seabass yielded promising results, demonstrating potential applications beyond spawning, including the delivery of drugs, peptides, and vaccines in aquaculture and potentially in human medicine.
* Presentation is part of the showcase segment
2.45pm: Alternative Protein including Cultured Meat by Assoc Prof Tan Lay Poh, Co-Director, Interdisciplinary Collaborative Core Office, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
The role of various biophysical induction methods in stem cell fate determination has been studied extensively. Using materials to that effect is a versatile avenue for manipulation of cell-material interaction which eventually leads to modulation of cellular behavior. In our laboratory, we work on surface patterning to modulate cellular morphology with the hypothesis that cellular morphology has an intimate relationship with the cellular behavior. We have used such mechanotransduction methods in tissue engineering and now in cultivated meat space. Join us as we delve into scientific insights and practical examples in the cultivated meat application.
3.05pm: *On-demand insect pollination for indoor vertical farms by Mr Carl Baptista, Founder & Chief Technology Officer, Cuprina Pte Ltd
Cuprina Pollination Pte Ltd introduces an innovative on-demand insect pollination service for indoor farming environments, tackling the challenges of manual pollination and inconsistent fruit set in controlled environment agriculture (CEA). Their unique solution employs specific lighting to activate flower petals, optimised pollinator-to-flower ratios and a variety of insect pollinators to achieve efficient and targeted pollination. This approach ensures precise control over pollination times, enhancing fruit yield and fruit quality. The technology demonstrates significant improvements in pollination efficacy, with results indicating superior fruit yields and sweetness compared to traditional methods. Cuprina's patents protect its novel approach, highlighting its potential to revolutionise indoor farming by enabling cost-effective, high-quality crop production.
* Presentation is part of the showcase segment
3.25pm: Probiotic Fermented Beverages and High Value Food Ingredients by Prof Staffan Kjelleberg, Emeritus Distinguished University Professorship, School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
Our mission is to harness the power of the microbiome by understanding mechanisms to develop efficacious products. We are using science to successfully modulate the microbiome for health by developing bespoke probiotic products with proven evidence of efficacy. These include non-dairy fermented grain-based beverages and freeze-dried food ingredients as well as fermented alternative protein for value-adding. We use in-house testing systems to provide evidence of added benefits, a service we can provide for external parties.
3.45pm: Interaction with Showcases l Networking
5.00pm: End of Event
Seats are limited.
Secure yours at https://bit.ly/NTUIF_March2024_Registration
