Guests touring the UNM-YSD food processing pilot facility in Semenyih during the launch.
TO BOLSTER climate resilience and support underprivileged communities, University of Nottingham Malaysia (UNM) and Sime Darby Foundation (YSD) launched the UNM-YSD food processing pilot facility.
The facility will boost the growth and use of crops that are better adapted to changing environmental conditions, thereby creating sustainable livelihoods for B40 women entrepreneurs.
Also present at the event was UNM research and knowledge exchange vice-provost Prof Dr Mohd Shahir Liew, YSD governing council member Puan Sri Normah Hashim and YSD chief executive officer Dr Yatela Zainal Abidin.
With them was Datin Goh Suet Lan, president of Women of Will Malaysia (WoW) which is a non-governmental organisation that empowers women through entrepreneurship and community development.
Operating under the UNM School of Biosciences, the facility in Semenyih, Selangor, is a hub for researchers and students working on food development and the scalability of food-related projects.
The RM600,000 initiative is a continuation of the Assesscrop socio-economic development project that had been supported by YSD in partnership with the global organisation Crops for the Future (CFF) since 2017.
The Assesscrop project aims to improve the health and livelihoods of rural and B40 communities through the increased use of underutilised traditional crops.
Following the closure of CFF, the project was led by UNM.
A Phase 1 investment of RM750,000 during the YSD-CFF partnership increased the nutritional content and food processing qualities of crops such as the Bambara Groundnut, Moringa Oleifera and Millet Landrace Bario.
This led to the development of the Assesscrop database and 10 new food products that enabled Phase 2 with UNM.
The UNM-led phase focuses on research, capacity-building and creating income opportunities for underprivileged women.
Working with WOW, UNM developed sustainable business models for selected B40 families.
To recognise the women’s potential in community development and further empower them, YSD provided RM50,000 in seed funding to 25 women entrepreneurs from Taman Medan Cahaya, Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
All participants have increased their monthly incomes and returned 30% of their seed funding to fuel further community initiatives, mainly in nutritional education and outreach.
Speaking on the partnership, Yatela said, “Our collaboration with UNM and WoW optimises climate-resilient, underutilised crops to strengthen national food security and empower underserved communities, particularly women and single mothers.”
YSD also supported two PhD scholars who are crucial to UNM’s ongoing research efforts in this field.
These efforts are set to be bolstered by the university’s food processing facility.
Prof Shahir praised the progress of the Assesscrop project.
“Our collaboration with YSD highlights our joint commitment to empowering communities and addressing food security concerns.
“The food processing facility offers UNM students and researchers hands-on opportunities in food innovation, bridges theory and practical application, and enhances our mission to drive impactful research and community development,” he said.
