Universiti Malaysia Kelantan through the Faculty of Agro Based Industry on Thursday (9/12) has successfully held the Postgraduate Symposium IV with the theme, “Research and Innovation on Sustainable Food Systems” virtually. This symposium collaborated with Vikrama Simhapuri University (India), Yogi Vemana University (India), Guru Ghasidas University (India), Postgraduate Program at the Faculty of Animal Science, Universitas Gadjah Mada (Indonesia) and Princess of Naradhiwas University (Thailand). Postgraduate Symposium IV aims to provide a platform for postgraduate students from local and international universities to share ideas, identify solutions and technologies for problem statements and exchange the latest information on research and innovation towards a sustainable food system. This symposium also provides an opportunity to build professional networks between postgraduate students and academics from other fields of study at other institutions. This symposium will discuss the latest research findings in various fields: Agrotechnology, Animal Science, Food Security, Agribusiness and Product Development.
In the opening of the Symposium, the event was opened by the Dean of the Faculty of Agro-based Industry, UMK, Assoc. Prof.Dr.Seri Intan Mokhtar and there was a speech by the Chair of the 4th Postgraduate Symposium, Ts. Dr Nor Dini Rusli. The first Keynote Speaker was Prof. Dr Abdul Rashid bin Mohamed Shariff from the Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Malaysia. Then, it continued to Invited Speaker 1 by Assc. Prof. Dr. Nitty Hirawaty Kamarulzaman from the Department of Agribusiness and Bioresource Economics, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Malaysia, with the title “Rethinking Supply Chain for Sustainable Food System.” Invited Speaker 2 was Dr Chan Chian Wen, Prebio-Tech/ Pangaea TripleVs Venture Sdn. Bhd., Malaysia, with the title “What does it take to become a Top-3 Innovation in UN FAO?”. The Invited Speaker 3 was Dr.Ir. Cuk Tri Noviandi from the Faculty of Animal Science, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia, with the title “Achieving balanced ruminant ration by utilizing local feedstuffs in Indonesia.” The Invited Speaker 4 was Assoc. Prof. Dr Ashwini Kumar Dixit from the Department of Botany, Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya, Koni India with the title “Immunomodulatory herbal medicine and nutraceuticals.”
Besides being held through a zoom meeting, the Symposium also might be watched via Facebook live streaming from the Universiti Malaysia Kelantan account. The event was then followed by parallel seminar sessions based on the topics covered by each field. The closing ceremony consisted of a closing speech by Prof. Dr Mohd Rosli Mohamad as the Dean of the Center for Postgraduate Studies, Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK) and the award ceremony for the best presenter. The best oral presenter for agrotechnology category was Nusanisa Chedao from Princess of Naradhiwas University, Narathiwat, Thailand, the best oral presenter for product development category was Chan Ke Xin from Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, the best oral presenter for animal science category was Nur Nazhiirah Amiirah Binti Mohd Suhaimi from the Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, the best oral presenter for food security category was Nurul Athirah Binti Mohd Zuki from the Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, and the best oral presenter for agribusiness category was Erlina Astuti from Universitas Gadjah Mada. Hopefully, this Symposium IV and other collaborative activities in the future will enrich student research and innovation to maintain the sustainability of world food safety and sovereignty.