PAGOH, Dec 5 – Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) and Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI) reached a significant milestone in their partnership with the exchange of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during the World Soil Day celebration organized by the Innovation Centre in Agritechnology for Advanced Bioprocessing (ICA) on 5th December 2024. The ceremony took place at the ICA, UTM Pagoh Campus, highlighting both institutions’ shared commitment to advancing in research collaboration and promotion in agriculture technology for promotion of food security and other research discipline. The MoU was exchanged between Prof. Dr. rer. Nat. Hesham Ali El-Enshasy, Director of the ICA as the UTM representative and Dr. Sanimah Simoh, Deputy Director General (Development & Operation) MARDI as the MARDI representative, with distinguished guests and participants from the World Soil Day event in attendance.
In his remarks, Prof. Dr. rer. Nat. Hesham Ali El-Enshasy, highlighted the significance of the collaboration. He stated, “This MoU represents more than just an agreement between two organizations. It embodies our shared vision and commitment to addressing some of the most pressing challenges facing our society today. By leveraging the strengths of both UTM and MARDI, we aim to drive cutting-edge research, promote technology transfer, and enhance capacity-building efforts in areas such as sustainable agriculture, environmental conservation, and technological advancements”.
The World Soil Day celebration, organized by the ICA Centre, served as the ideal backdrop for the MoU exchange. The event featured expert talks, exhibitions, and interactive activities focused on soil health and sustainable land management. It brought together individuals from academia, industry, and the community to raise awareness and promote action on global environmental challenges.
This MoU paves the way for joint initiatives between UTM and MARDI, including joint research project, knowledge sharing session, exchange of academician and researcher, student attachments and promoting other research collaboration aimed at promoting sustainable practices.
The ceremony concluded with a group photo session, visit to the research showcase and ICA facilities, a networking luncheon and concluded with project start-up meeting where representatives from both universities discussed the next steps for implementing the objectives of the MoU.
The MoU exchange, facilitated by ICA, marks a significant step forward in strengthening the collaboration between UTM and MARDI. It lays the foundation for impactful research, educational exchanges, and sustainability initiatives that will benefit both institutions’ and contribute to significant steps toward creating a positive and lasting impact on agricultural technology, food security, and sustainable development.
Source: UTM NewsHub