PUTRAJAYA, Aug 24 – Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) has reaffirmed its role as a national leader in sustainable research and community-driven solutions through its active participation in the Rising Impact through Sustainable Empowerment (RISE) 2025: Capacity Building Conference for Solution Partners and Participants of the Food Security Unit, [RISE 2025: Persidangan Pembangunan Kapasiti untuk Rakan Solusi dan Peserta Unit Keterjaminan Makanan] APPGM-SDG 2025. UTM’s involvement demonstrates the university’s commitment to advancing innovation, knowledge-sharing, and impactful partnerships in strengthening Malaysia’s food security agenda under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The three-day conference, held under the All-Party Parliamentary Group Malaysia on Sustainable Development Goals (APPGM-SDG), brought together solution providers, agribusiness practitioners, and grassroots project implementers. Designed as a capacity-building program, the event targeted partners engaged in Phase 1 and Phase 2 food security projects as well as local agribusiness ventures. UTM’s participation underscored its expertise in translating academic research into real-world, sustainable applications that directly benefit communities.
The program commenced on Day 1 with a briefing by James Ryan Raj, Director and Head of Secretariat APPGM-SDG, followed by a dialogue session with Dato’ Seri Mustapha Mohamed, advisor to APPGM-SDG and former Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department for Economic Affairs. The discussions set the tone for the conference by emphasizing the importance of integrating policy support with innovative solutions from universities like UTM. With years of research in agricultural technology and community engagement, UTM’s contributions offered valuable insights into how knowledge institutions can act as catalysts for grassroots transformation.
Day 2 featured an opening briefing by Nur Farah Ezzaty Abd Aziz, Director, Project Management Department, highlighting the necessity of robust project management and reporting systems. The day’s highlight was the officiating speech by Guest of Honour Rushdan Rusmi, Member of Parliament (MP) for Padang Besar, who commended solution providers and universities such as UTM for bridging national policy with local action. UTM’s role in offering technical expertise, monitoring frameworks, and training modules for community partners was highlighted as an example of how academic institutions can lead effective and sustainable interventions. Another key feature of Day 2 was the dialogue session with solution providers including Dr. Raihana Ridzuan, solution provider from UTM, who share the story and output of Community Farming Project in Tangkak, Johor led by Azmi Athan. Both UTM and community showcased the project’s innovative approach to strengthening local food systems and highlighted the development of value-added products that enhance the economic resilience of small-scale farmers.
On Day 3, participants joined interactive workshops and networking sessions that focused on sustainability strategies, branding, effective communication, and addressing implementation challenges. Here, UTM showcased its ongoing initiatives in food security research and community agribusiness models, sharing success stories of how academic research can be adapted to local contexts. The university’s emphasis on innovation, from smart farming to capacity-building programs, was recognized as a model that could be scaled nationwide.
Through a strong collaboration between the Faculty of Science, Faculty of Electrical Engineering (FKE), UTM, and the Innovation Centre in Agritechnology for Advanced Bioprocessing (ICA), various projects have been implemented with the support of APPGM Community Farming. The initiatives are located across Ledang, Iskandar Puteri, and Pagoh Parliaments, each focusing on sustainable food production systems. These include mixed crop farming in Kampung Sagil 2, Tangkak; aquaponics in Harmoni Vista, Pagoh; organic hydroponics at Sireh Park, Iskandar Puteri; and a solar-powered hydroponic system at Tanjung Kupang.
UTM’s participation not only strengthened this goal but also reinforced its reputation as a trusted partner for government, parliamentarians, and communities in driving Malaysia’s SDG agenda. By bringing its expertise in research, innovation, and technology transfer, UTM continues to contribute directly to sustainable food systems, climate resilience, and socio-economic empowerment. The university’s integrated approach ensures that community-based agribusiness initiatives are not only feasible but also sustainable and scalable. The conference concluded with a renewed commitment to strengthen grassroots action under APPGM-SDG, with UTM standing out as a knowledge hub and solution provider. As emphasized during the sessions, UTM’s contributions are helping to transform food security challenges into opportunities for sustainable community growth.