In 2019, Singapore clinched top spot on the Global Food Security Index in terms of food availability, affordability, quality and safety, and food safety-net programmes. However, Singapore’s resilience is challenged in the face of global climate crisis, increasing world population, depletion of natural resources, and other cultural, environmental and geographical factors. As a land-constrained nation that is highly reliant on food imports, it is imperative that Singapore embarks on food innovation research to future-proof our food supply and meet the nutritional requirements of the Asian consumer. The intersections of agriculture, aquaculture, nutrition and wellness, biotechnology, digitalisation, advanced manufacturing, and artificial intelligence and machine learning are transforming the trillion dollar global food industry.
The Singapore Institute of Food and Biotechnology Innovation (SIFBI) was launched in 2020 by bringing existing A*STAR divisions together as a single touchpoint for collaborators to tap on research capabilities and knowledge to sustainably develop innovative food solutions. Turning challenges into new opportunities by leveraging technology and knowledge advancements, Singapore will move one-step closer towards achieving food security and attain a competitive advantage by tackling regulatory and industry challenges.
Consumers no longer care just about what they are buying. They also want to know where the product comes from, whether it is scientifically proven to be safe and effective, and how it was manufactured. In the highly competitive consumer
care market, companies have to constantly innovate to meet the evolving demands of consumers.
Our scientists support the development of new technologies and products at every step of the consumer care R&D value chain by:
- Generating non-obvious consumer insights through advanced data mining, machine learning and image and voice analysis technologies
- Gaining fundamental and clinical insights into skin and hair
- Discovering novel actives and evaluating their safety and efficacy using animal-free biological and clinical tools
- Developing novel delivery and formulation technologies, and investigating their interactions with skin and hair
- Developing sustainable packaging and supporting the adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies to make the manufacture of products more efficient and competitive