Associate Prof Sanjay Swarup, SCELSE Deputy Research Director, was live on Channel News Asia on 24 July 2024!

This interview, conducted with Dr Tarun Chopra, Joint Director of the L’Oréal-SCELSE joint laboratory, focused on the strategic research collaboration between L’Oréal and NUS Environmental Research Institute (NERI) on soil and plant microbes.

Prof Swarup highlighted the groundbreaking work NUS is conducting through SCELSE as well, to discover a wider range of microbes that can replace synthetic agricultural inputs. A test-bed or “grow zone” has also been established with a goal to enhance the yield and quality of aesthetic ingredients without compromising sustainability.

Key highlights from Sanjay’s discussion include the new findings on:
1. Microbial Communication: How microbes communicate with plants.
2. Chemical Signals: The types of chemical signals exchanged between microbes and plants.
3. Growth Improvement: Methods to improve plant growth.
4. Growth Rate: Enhancing the speed of plant growth.
5. Chemical Production: Identifying the kinds of chemicals microbes can produce to aid plant growth, particularly those connected with high-value cosmetic ingredients, thus supplementing farm incomes.

This pioneering research promises to leverage natural processes to improve agricultural practices, making them more sustainable and efficient.