NTU SBS, Golden Agri International and SMART Research Institute sign MOU to advance sustainable agricultural practices

NTU’s School of Biological Sciences (NTU SBS) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Golden Agri International (GAI) and the SMART Research Institute (SMARTRI), facilitated by the Singapore Agri‑Food Innovation Lab (SAIL), to explore collaborative research in sustainable agricultural practices.

The partnership will focus on green nano‑fertilizers and plant‑immunity enhancers to improve crop productivity; molecular and structural regulation of oil biosynthesis and seed loading for efficient, sustainable vegetable‑oil production; plant–pathogen interactions and VOC‑based early diagnostics for pest and disease management; photosynthetic optimisation and carbon fixation to enhance yields while reducing environmental impact; and functional and comparative genomics for long‑term trait discovery in oil palm using non‑GMO approaches. The parties will take a systems (CoLab) approach to shape exploratory and applied projects, including the establishment of interdisciplinary research interfaces with other NTU entities.