Food sector innovations welcome
Published on: Thursday, September 05, 2024
By: Mardinah Jikur
FAMB 2024 is a programme organised by the Curriculum Division (BK), JPPKK in collaboration with Sandakan Polytechnic, Sabah.
SANDAKAN: Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry (Mosti) Deputy Minister Datuk Mohd Yusof Apdal said it is always ready to help develop innovations, especially by higher education students including polytechnics and community colleges.
“The food-related innovation they produce can also contribute to the national agro-food policy (SDG),” he told the media after officiating the Agro-Food and Biotechnology Festival (FAMB) organised by the Polytechnic Education and Community College Department (JPPKK) in collaboration with Sabah Sandakan Polytechnic (PSS) at Sandakan Sports Complex and Sandakan Polytechnic.
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FAMB 2024 is a programme organised by the Curriculum Division (BK), JPPKK in collaboration with Sandakan Polytechnic, Sabah.
It is one of the ‘Signature Programmes’ for the Agro and Bioindustry Unit (UAB), BK, JPPKK which is the main channel for disseminating information, research results, ideas and knowledge to all polytechnics, community colleges, higher education institutions and government agencies and private sector involved in agro, food and biotechnology.
Also present were BK Director Dr Zamzam Mohd Walid and Sabah Sandakan Polytechnic Director Mohd Sani Said.
Themed Agricultural Technology Based on Sustainable Development Goals, FAMB 2024 became the main platform for researchers, students, government agencies and the private sector to gather and share knowledge and innovative ideas in the field of agricultural technology.
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This festival also features various interesting events such as Research Paper Presentations, Product Innovation Competitions, Pitching Competitions, Agropreneur Product Sales Competitions and the Smart Community Programme which focuses on the sustainable restoration of mangrove forests in Sandakan held in collaboration with the Sabah Forestry Department through the Sabah Forestry Research Centre (FRC) Sandakan and the International Society Mangrove Ecosystem (ISME).
FAMB 2024 saw participation from various parties including lecturers and students from polytechnics, community colleges, public and private universities, research institutes, vocational schools as well as related government and private agencies including from the Peninsula.
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“Festivals like this are also capable of attracting the agro-food sector to be competitive and innovative in developing and contributing to the community with great research and innovation results, especially in the agro-food sector,” said Mohd Yusof.
He said the Ministry hoped that all the results of research, innovation and products as well as the cooperation that had been established so far would not stop.
“Keep working because they are all the hope and key for the development of the country’s agro-food sector,” he explained.
Taking the example of the Penang laksa powder innovation produced by the students involved, he said it made it easier for people to get the menu by cooking it themselves at home and the same goes for other innovations.
Earlier, Zamzam said the FAMB programme had been organised from 2015 until now in five polytechnic institutions and 13 selected community colleges and had successfully reached a decade since the first time held at Jeli Polytechnic in 2015.
Overall, the number of innovation products that have been contested at FAMB since the past decade has been estimated to reach more than 800 innovation products and more than 300 research papers that have been successfully produced.
He said it was the second time this year that Sandakan Polytechnic was given the honour of hosting FAMB.
The success of organising FAMB 2024 is a clear proof of the excellence of Sandakan Polytechnic, Sabah with the full support of BK, JPPKK to dignify and expand the priorities of the field of Agricultural Technology.
He said the main purpose of FAMB 2024 was to bring together researchers, students, government and private agencies in an event that has a major impact on the fields of Agrotechnology, Food Technology, Biotechnology, Landscape Horticulture, Green Technology, Aquaculture and Chemical Technology, including education fields specialising in agriculture and education, and technical and vocational education and training (TVET).
The 10th edition of FAMB 2024 also saw five polytechnics and 11 community colleges compete in an innovation competition in addition to presenting their respective research results in the field of agricultural technology.
Opportunities are given to all students and even this programme does not exclude special category students, namely students with Learning Disability (LD).
Nilai Polytechnic, Negeri Sembilan will host the 11th edition of FAMB next year.
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