Our services

The Agriculture Research and Innovation (AGRI) Centre’s research team comprises a diverse group of subject matter experts, including plant biologists, microbiologists, molecular biologists, food scientists, engineers, data analysts, and market researchers. This diverse expertise enables the Centre to provide comprehensive agriculture solutions. By adopting a multidisciplinary approach and collaborating with other schools and research institutions, the AGRI Centre delivers cutting-edge research and development, as well as industry consultation services.

With a structured focus on 5 agritechnology programmes and comprehensive state-of-the-art facilities, AGRI Centre supports the agriculture value chain, including agri-startups and new entrants via the following mechanisms:

• Developing innovative and practical solutions through research and development

• Solving industry pain points through technical advisory and consultancy

• Conducting feasibility studies on new and emerging agriculture technologies

• Prototype designing and test-bedding through lab and on-site trials

• Supporting scale-up and implementation of technology solutions 

• Providing education and training in urban farming practices and technologies adoptable for commercial use

Our 5 Agritech Programmes

Superior crops

• Genetics and breeding for high-yielding, climate-resilient, longer shelf-life crops adaptable to indoor and tropical farm conditions.

• Environmental modulation for nutrient and flavour enhancement to produce crops of higher quality.

• Cultivation methods and growth recipes for high-value crops.

Resource and farm waste management

• Efficient resource use through effective nutrient and light recipes to lower farm operation costs and increase productivity.

• Novel bio-fortification and bio-stimulant applications to enhance plant growth and crop nutrition.

• Farm waste valorisation and circularity.

• GAP and Clean and Green Urban Farms standards implementation.

Crop protection

• Novel nature-based strategies and solutions for crop health management.

• Integrated pest management programme.

• Early detection and prevention of pest infestations.

Smart farming

• Automated, productive and novel farming systems for precision farming.

• IoT and AI solutions for precise inputs, environmental control and optimising farm production and sustainability.

Agribusiness

• Effective farm designs, consumer demand and market insights, assessing product market value and developing market strategies.

• Carbon accounting and reduction to meet sustainability goals.

Our facilities

The Greenhouse offers hydroponics and substrate cultivation systems for studying plants in both cool and tropical climates. It houses various growing systems, such as Mobile Gulley System, Deep Water Culture, Aeroponics, Aquaponics and Dutch Buckets that can support studies of leafy greens, herbs, and fruiting crops.

Container farms can be customised and modified for specific growing conditions, including the cultivation of mushrooms and premium crops. They are also used for studies in Integrated Pest Management, Insect Farming, as well as pollinator research.

Agriculture Technology Innovation Lab is an advanced technology living lab for indoor farming. In this lab, various leading agritech companies partner with RP to develop advanced solutions for vertical farming. It is a state-of-the-art farming facility supported by automation and robotics to train students in technologies for precision farming.

The lab is supported by Plant Tissue Culture Lab, Plant Health Lab and various Analytical Labs that can perform:

• Biochemical and molecular characterisation

• Microbial analysis

• Metabolites and nutrient analysis

• Plant tissue culture and micropropagation

• Product development of new farm crops

• Sensory evaluation of produce

• Product shelf-life studies