Researchers at the National University of Singapore (NUS) have unveiled a cutting-edge microneedle biofertiliser system that could redefine sustainable agriculture and precision farming.

The innovative technology uses dissolving microneedle patches to deliver living biofertilisers directly into plant tissue, bypassing soil-related limitations and significantly improving efficiency.

In controlled greenhouse trials, leafy vegetables such as Choy Sum and Kale showed faster and healthier growth, recording higher shoot biomass, increased leaf area and greater height all while using over 15 per cent less biofertiliser compared to conventional soil inoculation. This breakthrough highlights a promising pathway to reduce fertiliser waste and minimise environmental impact.

Traditionally, biofertilisers  beneficial bacteria and fungi that enhance nutrient uptake and stress tolerance are applied to soil, where they face competition from native microbes and adverse conditions. The NUS approach sidesteps these challenges by delivering microbes straight into leaves or stems, enabling faster and more targeted results.

“Inspired by how microbes can migrate within the human body, we hypothesised that by delivering beneficial microbes directly into the plant's tissues, like a leaf or stem, they could travel to the roots and still perform their function, but much more effectively and be less vulnerable to soil conditions,” said Assistant Professor Andy Tay from the Department of Biomedical Engineering at NUS, who led the study.

The plant-friendly microneedles, made from biodegradable polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), dissolve within a minute of application, releasing their microbial payload gently into the plant. Laboratory tests confirmed minimal tissue disruption, stable chlorophyll levels and a rapid return to normal stress markers, underscoring the system’s safety and viability.

The team successfully delivered a plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) cocktail directly into plant tissue, outperforming soil-based treatments. Importantly, growth response correlated with microbial dosage up to an optimal threshold, allowing growers to determine the lowest effective dose and cut costs.

“Our microneedle system successfully delivered biofertiliser into Choy Sum and Kale, enhancing their growth more effectively than traditional methods while using over 15 per cent less biofertiliser,” Asst Prof Tay said. “By faster growth we refer to higher total plant weight, larger leaf area and higher plant height.”

With strong potential for urban farming, vertical farms and high-value crops, the researchers are now exploring scalability, automation and wider crop trials. This pioneering “microneedle biofertiliser” concept positions smart agri-tech at the forefront of eco-friendly, future-ready farming.

SecureDX, a US-based animal health diagnostics innovator, has announced a strategic partnership with Panacea Korea, a leading South Korean manufacturer of diagnostic testing solutions, to expand access to verified, affordable animal disease testing across North America.

The collaboration brings together advanced diagnostic manufacturing with AI-driven digital reporting to modernise how animal health data is captured, managed, and trusted.

Under the supply and exclusivity agreement, SecureDX will act as Panacea Korea’s exclusive importer and commercialisation partner in North America. The partnership introduces a new portfolio of validated animal disease testing kits and select diagnostic equipment, all integrated with SecureDX’s proprietary SecureOS AI-powered digital reporting and chain-of-custody platform.

The combined offering supports the detection of high-impact infectious diseases, including avian influenza, bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) and other critical pathogens affecting cattle, swine, poultry, sheep, goats, and exotic or zoo animals. All tests are developed under strict validation and quality management protocols to ensure consistent accuracy across species and testing environments.

A core differentiator of the partnership is the seamless integration of diagnostics with SecureOS. The platform leverages mobile technology and AI-enabled workflow standardisation to streamline sample registration, track chain-of-custody, monitor testing status, and deliver secure, traceable results. This approach reduces manual errors, improves data integrity, and enables standardised reporting for veterinarians, producers, laboratories, and animal health professionals.

Affordability without sacrificing quality is central to the collaboration. Through efficient manufacturing, optimised logistics, and digital workflow automation, SecureDX aims to deliver premium-quality diagnostics at a more accessible price point, expanding reliable testing options for farms, veterinary practices, zoos, laboratories, and animal export operations.

“Accuracy, quality control, and affordability are the foundation of everything we do,” said Justin Jones, CEO of SecureDX. “By combining Panacea Korea’s diagnostic technology with our SecureOSplatform, we are simplifying how testing is performed, reported, and trusted, while keeping costs accessible for real-world animal health applications.”

The partnership will also include PCR instruments and select point-of-care diagnostic platforms, all designed to integrate seamlessly with SecureOS and supported by laboratory validation standards.

“Working with SecureDX allows us to pair high-quality diagnostics with intelligent digital reporting,” said Clara Shin, CEO of Panacea Korea. “Together, we are raising the standard for accurate, affordable, and scalable animal health testing.”

The integrated diagnostic solutions are scheduled to launch in Q1 2026, with tailored offerings for laboratories, commercial farms, veterinary clinics, zoological institutions, and export programmes.

Limex has unveiled its latest innovation in industrial washing technology with the introduction of the Modular 8, a highly flexible and configurable washing machine platform designed for crates, seed trays, flower buckets and floats.

The new line marks a significant shift towards modular engineering, allowing customers to build exactly the washing solution they need using standardised components rather than costly custom-built systems.

Unlike traditional crate and tray washers that often require extensive engineering work to meet specific customer requirements, the Modular 8 is built from individual modules that connect seamlessly into a single washing line. These include pre-wash units, one or more main wash modules, rinse sections and blow-off units. This modular approach enables users to tailor the system precisely to their operational layout, hygiene standards and processing capacity.

By installing multiple main wash modules in sequence, the system increases soaking time and washing power, delivering higher throughput without compromising cleaning performance. Each standard module also offers multiple configuration options, such as higher-pressure pumps or advanced filtration technologies. The platform supports both left-hand and right-hand configurations, ensuring maximum flexibility for different production environments.

"With the Modular 8, we make it easier to choose exactly the configuration that matches the customer's capacity, hygiene requirements, and budget," says Joep Janssen, owner of Limex. "Our engineers have designed the machines in such a way that they follow each other seamlessly."

With a tunnel width of 800 millimetres, the Modular 8 is suitable for a broad range of applications, including harvest crates, seed trays, flower buckets and DWC floats. The system has also been designed with maintenance efficiency in mind. Improved accessibility of components simplifies cleaning, inspection and servicing, helping to reduce downtime and improve overall operational efficiency.

The Modular 8 builds on Limex’s reputation for proven, high-quality engineering. Constructed from robust stainless steel, the platform delivers durability, reliability and long service life. Twelve Modular 8 lines are already in operation across multiple countries, demonstrating strong market acceptance.

This launch sets the foundation for future developments, with the Modular 10, Modular 14 and Modular 18 planned to follow. These larger, configurable models will eventually replace Limex’s existing cart washers and big box washers, reinforcing the company’s commitment to modular, future-ready industrial washing solutions.

Key Technology (Key), a member of Duravant’s Food Sorting and Handling Group, has introduced its COMPASS optical sorter, a next-generation solution designed specifically for fresh-cut leafy greens processing.

Engineered to inspect product directly from the field, this belt-fed optical sorting system combines high-precision foreign material (FM) detection with gentle, hygienic handling to support food safety and operational efficiency.

Designed for early-stage processing, COMPASS helps processors address one of the most critical challenges in leafy greens operations foreign material contamination while maintaining simplicity and cost-effectiveness. As Jack Lee, Duravant Group President of Food Sorting and Handling, said,“Foreign material is one of the biggest challenges at this early stage of leafy greens processing, but many processors can’t justify the expense or complexity of traditional optical sorting systems. COMPASS changes that,” he said. “It delivers accurate and reliable FM removal in a user-friendly, cost-effective solution engineered to withstand the dirt and debris common at the front end of leafy greens lines.”

Ideal for spinach, arugula, salad mixes and other unwashed leafy greens, COMPASS accurately detects and removes a wide range of foreign materials, including dirt clods, rocks, sticks, insects and animal parts. When processing single varieties, it can also identify and reject product defects, enhancing overall product quality.

To reduce labour dependency and simplify training, COMPASS features a recipe-driven system with a touchscreen interface designed to mirror smartphone navigation. Operators can learn to run the sorter in under 30 minutes, quickly switch between products and create new recipes with ease. Intelligent belt control ensures precise tracking, reducing downtime and eliminating manual adjustments.

COMPASS offers flexible camera configurations with up to eight channels of multispectral sensor data, delivering advanced detection at a lower total cost of ownership. When equipped with Key’s Pixel Fusion technology, the sorter combines visible, infrared and shortwave infrared data to improve contrast and identify even hard-to-detect contaminants. An optional chlorophyll-sensitive channel further enhances detection accuracy.

The system is designed for optimal product flow, using specialised infeed conveying and optional air-assist features to prevent clumping and sticking. Sanitation is prioritised through an open-frame design, sloped surfaces and a clean-in-place system that supports fast, effective washdowns.

Each COMPASS sorter includes Key Discovery, transforming the machine into an IIoT-enabled data hub that provides real-time performance insights and quality analytics helping processors maximise uptime, safety and return on investment.