Distinguished Professor Donald L. Smith from the Department of Plant Science at McGill University, a renowned scientist, visited the Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology at National Taiwan University on January 13, 2025. Prof. Smith is internationally recognized for his research on sustainable agriculture, climate resilience, and plant-biotic interactions.
During his visit, he delivered a talk entitled "Hormones of the Holobiont: New Technologies for More Sustainable and Climate Change-Resilient Agriculture." In his talk, he shared insights from his 35-year tenure at McGill University, where he conducted research on crop production and physiology, with a focus on plant-microbe interactions via microbial secondary compounds, peptides and other bioactive molecules, particularly in the context of biofuel feedstock production. Based on his studies, he also received several patents and licensing for agricultural practices with international agriculture companies. The central theme of his presentation was leveraging microbes to combat climate change and scaling these innovations from the laboratory to industrial applications.
Following the presentation, Prof. Smith engaged in discussions with Department Head Prof. Tang-Long Shen and other faculty members about potential collaboration opportunities between the two institutions.