Serdang: The Malaysia Agriculture, Horticulture and Agrotourism Show (MAHA) 2026 is anticipated to usher in a new era for Malaysia's agricultural sector, with a heightened focus on sustainability within the agrifood industry, as announced by Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu. The minister emphasized the importance of sustainable agricultural practices in mitigating carbon emissions and confronting the challenges posed by global warming. These practices are also seen as a means to boost local produce in the domestic market and expand into export markets.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Mohamad Sabu expressed his hopes for MAHA 2026 to initiate significant steps toward sustainability in the agricultural sector. At the opening ceremony of MAHA 2026 at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS), he urged stakeholders not to overlook the significance of sustainability in agriculture and agrifood sectors. The event highlights several sustainable practices, such as efficient electricity use, systematic waste and food management, reducing reliance on single-use plastics, regenerative agriculture, and promoting recycling.
Mohamad also called on the public to recognize the importance of national food self-sufficiency by reviving the spirit of the Green Book Policy, which was introduced in 1974 by Malaysia's second Prime Minister, the late Tun Abdul Razak. The policy was designed to reduce reliance on food imports and mitigate the rising cost of living by boosting domestic food production.
The minister outlined the government's commitment to strengthening the fisheries and livestock sectors. This includes modernizing fishing vessels and farms, developing high-value aquaculture industries, adopting technology in animal feed production, and enhancing biosecurity measures for disease control. MAHA 2026 serves as a platform for international cooperation in agriculture, with delegations from 14 countries participating and several cooperation agreements expected to be finalized during the event.
However, Mohamad stressed the importance of ensuring that collaborations extend beyond the signing of memoranda of understanding (MoUs) to produce meaningful and tangible outcomes. "We want to see these MoUs translate into more than just signed agreements," he stated. He highlighted the need to create opportunities for increasing export sales and enabling local entrepreneurs, especially new businesses and agritech start-ups, to attract investment from local and international sources.
MAHA 2026, taking place from August 28 to September 6 at MAEPS, features around 2,000 exhibitors and aims to attract over four million visitors. Key figures at the event include Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Datuk Chan Foong Hin and the Ministry's Secretary-General, Datuk Seri Isham Ishak.