Friday 29 Mar 2024
By
main news image

KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 1): Newly formed non-governmental organisation (NGO) the Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences Association (ATAS) hopes to position Malaysia as the regional hub of tropical agricultural research, food production, agri techno-innovation and entrepreneurship development.

At its launch here on Tuesday (Nov 30), ATAS also signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Cooperation of International Research & Agriculture Development (CIRAD), a French agricultural research and cooperation organization forging the sustainable development of tropical and Mediterranean regions, to modernise the Malaysian agriculture sector, in line with the 12th Malaysia Plan (2021–2025), which has a focus on smart farming.

“With ATAS, we would like to ensure the success and sustainability of the ecosystem for tropical agriculture which is Malaysia’s main agriculture sector for export. [With] the collaboration with CIRAD and with the implementation of innovative science technology methodologies, I’m convinced that we will be able to increase the food production for export, which will then boost our country’s economy,” said Emeritus Professor Tan Sri Dr Syed Jalaludin Syed Salim, patron for ATAS.

The signing ceremony was witnessed by Roland Galharague, ambassador of France to Malaysia.

“In the long term, the MoU aims to develop specific collaboration programs related to the specific interest of ATAS, which include technology agriculture, smart farming and precision agriculture,” said CIRAD regional director for the Southeast Asian island countries, Dr Jean-Marc Roda.

“While CIRAD has a long-standing cooperation in Malaysia on the main agricultural commodities, i.e oil palm, forest, timber products, biomass — this cooperation with ATAS expects to develop a specific focus on agroecological transitions, food systems, climate change, and territory-based approaches, with specific focus for the small farmers and their communities,” he added.

ATAS, whose members comprise agricultural researchers, scientists, academics, entrepreneurs, practitioners, farmers, members of agricultural NGOs and other persons interested in tropical agriculture, aims to spearhead tropical agriculture research and develop state-of-the-art innovative practices for food production.

Its projects in the pipeline are focused on rural development, marine aquaculture, plantation and urban farming.

ATAS will also be organizing its first International Conference of Tropical Agriculture (ICTA) on May 26 to 28, 2022. The conference aims to bring together leading agri scientists and academics, agri-techno-entrepreneurs, as well as agri practitioners, community leaders and NGOs to exchange and share their experiences, research findings, best practices and success stories on all aspects of tropical agriculture.

      Print
      Text Size
      Share