Biotech and Food Tech Innovation made in Singapore and Chemistry and Biology Connected – The Development of BASF’s Insecticide Inscalis^TM

Dr. Melanie Weingarten, Singapore Institute of Food and Biotechnology Innovation, A*STAR, Singapore

The Singapore Institute of Food and Biotechnology Innovation brings together end-to-end research capabilities encompassing biotechnology, nutrition, food process engineering and cutting-edge analytics under one roof. We are supporting the Singapore Food Story with our “Alternative Protein Production Platform” and in Singapore’s Food Tech Innovation Center, we successfully operate our Fermentation Joint Lab to accelerate the commercialisation of sustainable products via innovations from bench to pilot-scale together with start-ups, companies, and institutes of higher learnings.

BASF’s Inscalis^TM is a novel insecticide active ingredient which was enabled by connecting state-of-the-art tools from biology and chemistry.  Deep understanding of the influence on the process parameters for all three steps (fermentation, downstream processing, and chemistry) was fundamental to yield a robust, safe, and economically viable process. The R&D process was successfully scaled up to commercial production. It is now formulated in BASF’s plant in Singapore.

Process Analytical Technology Integration with Parallel Bioreactor Systems: Automated Feed Control for Enhanced Product Yield

LayKoon Goh, TJX Bioengineering

As synthetic biology advances toward scalable biologics production, high-throughput bioprocess development with real-time analytics across parallel systems has become essential. Parallel bioreactor systems accelerate R&D through high-throughput screening and optimization, reducing development timelines by 20-30%. However, integrating Process Analytical Technology (PAT) across parallel systems presents unique challenges in coordinated monitoring, data management, and simultaneous process optimization. Early implementation of robust monitoring and control strategies is critical for successful bioprocess scale-up.

This work presents a systematic PAT integration approach using mass spectrometry for real-time off-gas monitoring in Pichia pastoris fermentation and ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) with automated sampling for Lactobacillus casei cultivation. The system employs intelligent data management platforms enabling synchronized control through User Defined Function algorithms across multiple parallel bioprocesses. Results demonstrate enhanced coordinated process optimization, with the mass spectrometry approach achieving substantial improvements in recombinant protein yields and reduced process variability, while the UPLC methodology enabled precise pH optimization for lactic acid production through real-time metabolite feedback control.
This presentation will discuss parallel system coordinated analytical integration strategies, multi-reactor control methodologies, and automated optimization frameworks. The findings provide insights into scaling PAT implementation for parallel bioprocess development and systematic approaches to productivity optimization across diverse fermentation applications.

Speakers’ bio:

Melanie Weingarten, Ph.D., SIFBI

Melanie Weingarten is Co-Head of the Biotransformation & Engineering Division at SIFBI, A*STAR and Co-Lead of the Fermentation Joint Lab at Singapore’s Food Tech Innovation Center. She worked at BASF SE in White Biotechnology and was responsible for synthesis and process development for applications in flavour and fragrance, crop protection, pharma, nutrition and consumer care. She studied chemistry as a fellow of the German National Merit Foundation at RWTH Aachen and UC Berkeley and graduated with a Ph.D. at the Max-Planck-Institute for Coal Research followed by a Post-doc at MIT.

Together with her team she drives food and biotech innovation made in Singapore.

LayKoon Goh, TJX Bioengineering

LayKoon Goh is a Technical Sales Manager at TJX Bioengineering, a bioreactor and software development and manufacturing company, where she works to connect advanced bioprocess technology with real-world industry needs. Drawing from over 10 years of hands-on experience as a fermentation scientist and application support scientist, she focuses on upstream bioprocess R&D, process development, and manufacturing across microbial fermentation and cell culture systems. Her background covers the upstream bioprocess development pathway from laboratory-scale work to industrial implementation, supporting organizations as they navigate the journey from research to production with improved process performance and yields.