3^RD Innovation Centre in Agriculture for Advance Bioprocessing Research Symposium (ICARS) hosted by Universiti Teknologi Malaysia Pagoh Campus was successfully conducted despite unforeseen circumstances due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Academician, researchers, and agriculture entrepreneurs who attended the symposium via online symposium were seen enthusiastically making full use of the presentation, question-and-answer session to ask speakers for advice and opinion.

This year’s symposium was launched by Dr Cheng Kian Kai, Chairman of ICARS, Director of Innovation Centre in Agriculture for Advance Bioprocessing (ICA) and Director of UTM Pagoh Campus.

“Although this symposium was carried out in an online setting, I hope all participants and viewers will all have an enriched with better understanding of the latest advancement in agriculture technology,” Dr. Cheng said.

Symposium keynote speech was delivered by Professor Dr. Mohamamd Roji bin Sarmidi Director of Phyto Biznet Sdn. Bhd. And Member of Malaysian Nutritional Medicine Practitioners (MNMP).

 “The way forward is to incorporate agriculture incorporation with sustainable ecology will enhance food production in our country. To achieve and maintain sustainability, we must integrate the ecology of biology and sociology with a new ecology of economics in finding ways to work and to live in harmony.” said Professor Roji.

ICARS organizers also awarded Mrs. Siti Nor Azlina binti Abd Rahman for her exceptional presentation on “Effect of pectinase enzyme to the carotenoid and antioxidant of virgin palm oli (VPO) from palm mesocarp,” in ICARS Nutrient Dense and Bioactives Food for Health and Wellness category.

Also awarded best presenter was Ms. Norfakhhrina binti Mohd Noor for research presentation on “Composition study of leaching from organic monoculture and polyculture of water spinach, okra and yard long bean” for Sustainable Agriculture category. All prizes were handed over by Dr. Cheng Kian Kai, Chairman of 3^rd ICARS.