Plant Innovations from SGGW in Japan
An interview with Prof. Hazem Kalaji, Ph.D., from the Department of Plant Physiology, Institute of Biology, Warsaw University of Life Sciences (SGGW), on international collaboration, groundbreaking research, and participation in EXPO 2025 Osaka (Japan).
Professor, as a panelist in the debate on ‘Innovative Technologies in Healthcare’ at Expo 2025 Osaka (Japan), what will you present to the conference participants? What groundbreaking innovations will you discuss?
At Expo 2025 Osaka, I will showcase groundbreaking solutions developed at SGGW in collaboration with my Japanese partners. These innovations harness the potential of plants to safeguard both human health and the environment. The key technologies I will present include:
– Moss-Based Anti-Viral Half Mask – An innovative protective mask incorporating mosses, which possess unique filtration properties and the ability to neutralize viruses, as confirmed by laboratory tests in Japan. Using natural materials in healthcare offers a more sustainable and effective alternative to traditional personal protective equipment. This solution holds significant potential for future pandemics and pathogen protection in crowded urban spaces.
– Plants as Natural Antiviral Agents – I will present revolutionary research on the antiviral properties of plants, specifically Canavalia ensiformis (Jack bean), whose natural compounds (concanavalin A.) have demonstrated the potential to inhibit viral infections. This discovery paves the way for developing plant-based antiviral therapies, offering sustainable and accessible solutions for future healthcare challenges.
– Autonomous Biological Feedback System – A revolutionary system that enables plants to self-regulate their growth environment under controlled conditions (e.g., greenhouse), particularly light conditions, ensuring optimal photosynthetic efficiency. This technology, developed in collaboration with Mr. Ryszard Grodowski, Eng., Polish specialist in spectrophotometry and automation, has already been showcased as the ‘Greenhouse Silent Disco’ installation at the Triennale Museum in Milan (2022) and later at the Museum of Architecture in Wrocław (2023).
– Ecological Ambulance – A Mobile Monitoring System – This state-of-the-art device integrates advanced sensors and AI to analyze plant health, air and soil quality, and detect ecological threats in real time. It serves as a diagnostic tool for assessing ecosystem health, monitoring greenhouse gas emissions, and preventing environmental disasters.
The central message of my presentation is to emphasize that plants can become powerful allies in tackling some of the most pressing global challenges, such as climate change, pandemics, and pollution. By incorporating plant-based innovations into modern technologies, we can build a healthier and more sustainable future.
Additionally, I will introduce the concept of ‘plant talk’—a pioneering approach that explores how plants communicate environmental stress, serving as a natural early-warning system for ecological threats.
Why is this topic being addressed at the conference? And is it your initiative?
This topic is particularly relevant in the context of global health and environmental challenges. Utilizing plants as bio-indicators and sensors to monitor ecosystems and protect health is an innovative approach that could significantly influence the future of environmental protection and medicine.
The concept of my presentation stems from over 6 years of research conducted in collaboration with my Japanese partner, Dr. Seiya Sato (Niigata University of Pharmacy and Medical and Life Sciences and the Green’s Green Company, Niigata). Our studies explore the ability of plants to neutralize pathogens and their function as natural biosensors. Plants possess a remarkable capacity to adapt to environmental changes, making them not only valuable sources of medicinal compounds but also effective biological indicators of climate change and air quality.
Expo 2025 Osaka emphasizes sustainability, technological innovation, and public health, making this topic perfectly aligned with the event’s key themes. I strongly believe that plants can play a fundamental role in modern medicine and ecology, and I look forward to sharing my research findings with the international scientific and business community.
Professor, what do you hope to achieve for SGGW through your participation in the World Exhibition in Japan?
Participation in Expo 2025 Osaka presents a unique opportunity to showcase Polish scientific achievements on a global stage and strengthen SGGW’s position as a leader in innovative plant-based technologies. My key objectives for this event include:
– Enhancing SGGW’s global visibility – Expo is a prestigious platform that attracts scientists, entrepreneurs, and policymakers worldwide. I aim to position my alma mater, SGGW, as a forward-thinking and innovative university that is actively engaged in advancing nature-based technologies.
– Establishing international research partnerships – I plan to engage with representatives from Japanese universities and research institutions to explore potential collaborative projects. Given Japan’s leadership in biology, biotechnology and environmental sciences, such partnerships could be highly beneficial for both sides.
– Securing funding and investment for further research – The innovative plant-based technologies I will present, including the antiviral mask, biological feedback system, and the ecological ambulance, have strong commercial potential. I hope to attract investors and secure grants that will enable large-scale implementation and further development of these solutions.
– Engaging with the Japanese industrial sector – Japan places a strong emphasis on technological innovation and environmental sustainability. I aim to establish connections with companies interested in the production and commercialization of plant-based health and environmental monitoring systems.
– Expanding academic exchange programs – Japanese universities excel in agriculture, biology, biotechnology, and ecological research. My goal is to use this opportunity to develop new student and PhD exchange programs that will enrich academic collaboration and knowledge sharing between our institutions.
I am confident that SGGW’s participation in Expo 2025 Osaka will bring long-term benefits, fostering new scientific collaborations, securing research funding, and accelerating the implementation of groundbreaking innovations.
Thank you for the interview.
Interviewed by: Anita Kruk, SGGW Promotion Office
Interview supplementary material:
https://bw.sggw.edu.pl/info/author/WULS804512b633a5469e854501498608307d/
https://www.sggw.edu.pl/polmaska-antywirusowa-z-mchow/
https://media.sggw.pl/aktualnosci/716065/polmaska-antywirusowa-z-mchow
https://media.sggw.pl/aktualnosci/826050/kanawalia-szablasta-zapobiega-zakazeniu-koronawirusem
https://nicolacholewa.pl/Triennale-1
https://ma.wroc.pl/en/events/events-archive/o-czym-szepcza-rosliny/
https://media.sggw.pl/aktualnosci/447604/roslinny-big-brother-w-sggw
https://youtu.be/xza3veM7z6I?si=pyeGAOGFOvBV8dRF
https://sites.google.com/kalaji.pl/kalaji?usp=sharing
https://bw.sggw.edu.pl/info/author/WULS804512b633a5469e854501498608307d/
https://www.sggw.edu.pl/sggw-partnerem-polskiego-dnia-ziemi-na-expo-2025-osaka-kansai/
https://www.sggw.edu.pl/sggw-organizatorem-wydarzenia-w-ramach-wystawy-swiatowej-expo-2025/
https://expo.sggw.edu.pl/konferencja/