In this episode of Data in Biotech, host Ross Katz speaks with Patrick Torbey, CEO and Co-Founder of Neoplants, about using genetic engineering and microbiome innovation to tackle indoor air pollution. Patrick explains how Neoplants is turning everyday houseplants into powerful air purifiers using synthetic biology, offering insights into VOC degradation, enzyme pathways, and data-driven R&D.

​​What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• How genetically modified plants and microbiomes can reduce indoor air pollution by targeting VOCs like formaldehyde and benzene
• The scientific and engineering challenges of modifying indoor plants at the genomic level
• Why data-driven testing and simulation are critical to optimizing plant function and user impact
• The role of synthetic biology in creating sustainable, scalable biotech products
• Patrick’s vision for solving climate challenges through engineered plant ecosystems

​​Meet Our Guest:

Patrick Torbey is the CEO and Co-Founder of Neoplants, a Paris-based biotech startup engineering plants to purify indoor air. With a PhD in genetic editing and deep expertise in synthetic biology, Patrick leads Neoplants in building functional, aesthetically unique, and sustainable plant systems for the future.

About The Host:

Ross Katz is the Principal Data Scientist at CorrDyn. He brings decades of experience across biotech, energy, and non-profit sectors, with a focus on building smarter data systems, machine learning pipelines, and actionable insights for complex industries.

Connect with Our Guest:

• Sponsor: CorrDyn, a data consultancy
• Find out more about Neoplants
• Connect with Patrick Torbey on LinkedIn

Connect with Us:

• Follow the podcast for more insightful discussions on the latest in biotech and data science.
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