By Faiz Hamzah
Photo by Noor Azreen Awang
SERDANG, 13 Nov – Minister of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry, Dato’ Salahuddin Ayub officiated the Joint Symposium of the 8th International Agriculture Congress 2018 & 6th International Symposium for Food & Agriculture 2018 (IAC-ISFA 2018).
It is organised by the Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) and Niigata University, Japan in collaboration with the Malaysian Department of Agriculture.
He said that the symposium involved researchers, government and private agencies in the food and agriculture sector, particularly the Faculty of Agriculture of Niigata University, Japan and the UPM Faculty of Agriculture which focus on agriculture application and technology to market food production.
“I believe that this conference will benefit the agriculture sector in exploring revolutionary innovations that will shape the future of agriculture that focuses on applications and technology development in agriculture to increase agricultural productions,” he said.
Dato’ Salahuddin hopes that the conference will provide a good platform to share knowledge and experience among researchers, entrepreneurs, investors, policy makers, innovators and practitioners of the agricultural sector.
UPM Vice Chancellor, Prof. Datin Paduka Dato' Dr. Aini Ideris said the symposium themed ‘Shaping the Future through Agriculture Innovation’ enables participants to obtain new knowledge and research progress in agriculture.
“UPM conducts bilateral relations in research, staff and student exchange and develops agriculture related innovations internationally and enhances networks and reputations internationally,” she said.
Also present were Dean of Faculty of Agriculture, Prof Dr. Abdul Shukor Juraimi and Dean of Faculty of Agriculture, Niigata Universiti, Japan, Prof. Dr. Kuni Sueyoshi.
Meanwhile, two innovative products by UPM researchers, BlastBuster RS4 by Head, Laboratory of Science and Technology, Institute of Plantation studies (IKP), Prof Madya Dr. Wong Mui Yun and The Mahseer Feed by Deputy Dean (Graduate Studies, Research and International) Office, UPM Faculty of Agriculture, Prof. Dr. Mohd Salleh Kamarudin were launched by Dato’ Salahuddin at the event.
BlastBuster RS4 is about green technology innovation in the production of anti-fungal formula to prevent cholera while acting as a growth-boosting agent. The Mahseer Feed is about alternative fish food that speeds up fish growth, reduces cost and increases breeder profitability. - UPM
