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UMT, USASK to collaborate in creating farming technology

UMT, USASK to collaborate in creating farming technology

Monday, 29/08/2022

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SASKATCHEWAN, CANADA, 21 August 2022 – Research collaborations that can create modern technology are important to improve the productivity of the agricultural and fisheries sectors to ensure the country’s food security.

Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Noraini Ahmad said higher education sector needs to increase its international collaborations to overcome the global food security issue that is now critical due to many challenges, including the pandemic, climate change, and international conflicts.

“These kinds of collaborations will allow us to overcome the challenges and meet the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“We believe that SDG 4, which is Quality Education, forms the basis of the other SDGS, so we must develop educational programmes that transcend the international boundaries to produce holistic graduates.

“Therefore, I hope Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, UMT, and University of Saskatchewan, USASK, will increase their collaborative efforts to develop the programmes that have been planned together,” she said.

Dr. Noraini was present here today to witness the signing of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between UMT and USASK. Both universities will collaborate on a project to produce food using an alternative protein source black soldier flies (BSF), which are used to develop formula food for aquatic animals.

Also present were Saskatchewan’s Minister of Advanced Education Gordon S. Wyant and USASK Provost cum Vice President of Academic Prof Airini.

Dr. Noraini is in Canada attending the 65th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC) in Halifax from 20 – 26 August. The conference is organized by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA).

Meanwhile, UMT Vice Chancellor Prof. Dato’ Dr. Mazlan Abd Ghaffar said the MoU came about after USASK became interested in a research project carried out by UMT researchers and subsequently proposed a collaboration to commercialise the product for the Canadian market.

He said the research carried out by the researchers at UMT’s Institute of Tropical Aquaculture and Fisheries (AKUATROP) will be applied in the aquatic animal food processing industry to produce food for fish, prawns, and crabs.

The food will also be used as an alternative food for farm animals such as chickens, ducks, goats, rabbits, and cows.

“Black soldier flies are insects whose varied species can be found in almost every part of the world, and their larvae contain high amounts of quality protein, chitin, and lipid suitable for daily needs, based on scientific studies by expert researchers.

“The larvae are used as an alternative to reduce the dependency on the currently used fish-based protein food considering that the cost of the current resource is high and its use is not sustainable,” he said.

He added that the use of BSF formula food has scientifically been proven to expedite the growth and increase the immunity of the animals.

“The alternative source can meet the wide demand of the market and therefore will be the answer to the government’s call for ensuring food security and future food,” he said.