Kuala Lumpur: The Higher Education Ministry (MOHE) is actively working on identifying the unique strengths of universities to enhance the national agenda on agriculture and food security. This initiative aims at strategically leveraging these strengths to tackle food security challenges effectively.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Deputy Minister Datuk Mustapha Sakmud emphasized the critical role of academicians and higher learning institutions in ensuring sustainable achievement of the food security agenda. He highlighted the importance of networking among universities to pool expertise and collaboratively address food security challenges at reasonable costs during the closing ceremony of the National Food Security Conference 2025 at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM).

The conference, held over two days, was a collaborative event organized by UPM along with MOHE and the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry. It served as a platform for discussions on national agricultural and food security policies, bringing together policymakers, academicians, NGOs, entrepreneurs, students, and industry players through keynote addresses, plenary sessions, research presentations, and panel discussions.

In his address, Mustapha stressed the necessity of a collaborative approach involving government, industry players, and farmers to effectively address the nation's food security challenges. He underscored the importance of collective thinking to tackle these pressing issues.

Furthermore, UPM vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Ahmad Farhan Mohd Sadullah discussed the UPM-led Food Security Nexus, which includes 20 public universities and seven private universities. He shared plans for expanding collaboration under the Nexus to include Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions and polytechnics, highlighting the crucial role of technology in transforming farming communities. He noted that while universities typically house high-level technology, the involvement of TVET and polytechnic institutions is necessary for effective implementation.