Bong Soo’s lab is focused on plant nutrient signalling and microbiome symbiosis to increase crop production yield, nutrition value, nutrient use efficiency in indoor farms as well as to improve vegetable shelf-life. Current research projects include developing senescence inhibitor to prolong agricultural shelf-life, early diagnosis of crop nutrient deficiency using Raman spectroscopy and formulating fungi-based biocontrol agents for plant growth promotion and aluminium tolerance.

Bong Soo’s research interests also cover various aspects of plant nutrient signalling pathways and molecular breeding. In the next five years, he hopes to achieve higher food production levels by transferring invention disclosures to local indoor farms in Singapore. These include the early detection of plant nitrogen deficiency with Raman spectroscopy, adoption of partial root-zone drying in hydroponic systems, and the identification of POT1, a Penicillium olsonii TLL1 strain that increases phosphate use efficiency and alleviates aluminium stress in plants.

Bong Soo’s longer-term goal includes developing unlimited phosphate production techniques, identifying materials and  methodologies for phosphate production.