Prof. Michael Strano on Rewiring How We Farm

In this episode of Ag Tech Talk by AgriBusiness Global, we’re joined by Prof. Michael Strano, Professor of Chemical Engineering at MIT and Co-Lead Principal Investigator at the Disruptive & Sustainable Technologies for Agricultural Precision (DiSTAP) interdisciplinary research group at the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research & Technology (SMART), MIT’s research enterprise in Singapore. Strano shared how his team is pioneering real-time, non-invasive plant monitoring technologies that tap directly into the chemical “nervous system” of crops. Strano explains how tools like nanosensors, AI, and controlled environment systems are reshaping how we understand and optimize plant growth. From hormone-based crop diagnostics to nanotechnology-powered fertilizers and CRISPR delivery, he explores the innovations needed to close the gap between food security and sustainability—and what it will take to bring these tools to farms around the world.