91ÅÝܽ

91ÅÝܽ (SFU) showcased its growing leadership in sustainable agritech research & innovation at the inaugural APRU Food Security and Agritech Symposium, held November 2–4, 2025 at the CREATE campus in Singapore.

Jointly organized with Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and the National University of Singapore (NUS), the three-day event convened experts from across the network to address urgent challenges in food production, climate resilience, and agricultural innovation across the Asia-Pacific region.

Representing SFU, Prof. Woo Soo Kim (Mechatronic Systems Engineering), co-director of the APRU Food Security and Agritech Hub and director of SFU’s Global Institute for Agritech, presented research on AI-powered sustainable resource optimization for indoor farming, smart automation and UAV-based remote sensing. Prof. Zamir K. Punja (Biological Sciences) shared insights on enhancing stress tolerance in plants through genetic engineering, while Assistant Prof. Bing Lu (Geography) highlighted his work on monitoring blueberry crop health using satellite and drone imagery - all integral to SFU’s collaborative efforts to leverage data, robotics, and biotechnology for advanced sustainable agriculture.

Keynote and featured speakers brought exceptional depth and global expertise to the symposium, reflecting the interdisciplinary strength needed to tackle complex food system challenges. Prof. Paul Teng (NTU Singapore), internationally recognized for his leadership in food security policy across Asia, provided critical insights into regional governance and resilience planning through his address on ASEAN’s 10-year Agri-Food Outlook and 5-year Strategic Plan 2026–2030. Prof. Peter Preiser (NTU Singapore), a leading biomedical scientist and co-lead of Singapore’s Proteins4Singapore initiative, offered a science-driven perspective on ensuring food resilience in rapidly urbanizing megacities. Prof. Prakash Kumar (NUS), a pioneering expert in sustainable urban farming and plant biology, highlighted the potential of urban agriculture to enhance local food production and sustainability as an example of Singapore’s innovative approaches.

Together, their contributions spotlighted the transformative potential of the APRU Food Security and Agritech Hub, which connects researchers, universities, and industry partners to translate scientific discovery into practical solutions - from AI-enabled farming and sustainable protein development to resilient food systems that reduce waste and emissions. Launched in 2024 and co-hosted by SFU, NTU Singapore, and NUS, the fosters collaboration among universities, industry, and policymakers to advance innovation in AI, IoT, robotics, alternative proteins, and resource-efficient food systems.

The Singapore symposium marks the Hub’s first major milestone toward establishing a research and innovation network addressing food security and sustainability across the Pacific Rim. Building on the momentum from Singapore, SFU will host the 2026 APRU Food Security and Agritech Symposium in Vancouver.

Want to be involved? Contact SFU International at ymori@sfu.ca