Penang, August 22 – Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Cawangan Pulau Pinang and Green Forte Sdn. Bhd. have signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) to collaborate on advancing urban agriculture research. The MoA was signed during a ceremony held at Permatang Pauh, marking a significant milestone in efforts to develop sustainable agricultural solutions.
Green Forte Sdn. Bhd. has committed a research grant amounting to RM47,717 for the development of a closed indoor environment cabin system designed for green vegetable cultivation. The cabin system, which integrates Internet of Things (IoT) technology, is expected to optimize growing conditions and promote efficient resource management in urban farming.
TM Tunku Izzudin Shah bin Tunku Abdul Hamid Thani, Chief Marketing Officer of Technodex Berhad Group, hailed the partnership as an important step in addressing sustainability and food security challenges. “This MoA strengthens the relationship between academia and industry. Together, we aim to push the boundaries of urban agriculture by leveraging UiTM’s research capabilities and Green Forte’s innovative technologies,” he said.
Assoc. Prof. Ts. Dr. Kay Dora Abd Ghani, Deputy Rector of Research, Industry Networking, Community, and Alumni at UiTM Cawangan Pulau Pinang, also expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration. She highlighted the university’s commitment to using research to create real-world solutions: “By working with Green Forte, we are confident that this partnership will yield significant breakthroughs in urban agriculture and benefit the broader community.”
The partnership will focus on areas such as smart agriculture, vertical farming, and sustainable food production. The MoA is expected to facilitate impactful research outcomes that will contribute to Malaysia’s growing urban farming industry.
As urbanization continues to increase, the demand for innovative and sustainable farming methods is becoming more pressing. The closed indoor environment cabin system, supported by the IoT, will provide an advanced farming solution, allowing for controlled and efficient vegetable cultivation in urban spaces.
Both UiTM and Green Forte Sdn. Bhd. have plans to expand their research into other areas, including resource-efficient farming systems, smart irrigation, and the use of artificial intelligence in agriculture.
The signing of the MoA reflects the growing importance of university-industry collaborations in addressing key challenges in Malaysia’s agriculture sector, particularly in urban farming.