SEMENYIH, SELANGOR, 20 SEPTEMBER 2024 – In a significant move to bolster climate resilience and support underprivileged communities, the University of Nottingham Malaysia (UNM) and Yayasan Sime Darby (YSD) launched the UNM-YSD Food Processing Pilot Facility. This facility is designed to enhance the development and utilisation of crops that are better adapted to changing environmental conditions, thereby creating sustainable livelihoods for B40 women entrepreneurs.
Also present at the event was Professor Ir. Dr Mohd. Shahir Liew, Vice Provost of Research and Knowledge Exchange of UNM, Puan Sri Normah Hashim, Governing Council Members of YSD; Dr Yatela Zainal Abidin, CEO of YSD; and Datin Wira Goh Suet Lan, President of Women of Will Malaysia (WOW), an NGO dedicated to women empowerment through entrepreneurship and community development.
Operating under the UNM School of Biosciences, this newly launched facility acts as a critical hub for researchers and students, providing opportunities for food development and the scalability of food-related projects.
The RM600,000 initiative is a continuation of the ASSESSCROP project, initially supported by YSD in collaboration with Crops for the Future (CFF) since 2017, focusing on underutilised crops to boost nutritional security and economic resilience among rural and disadvantaged communities. The partnership transitioned to UNM following the closure of CFF, leveraging UNM’s expertise to further these goals.
The initial investment of RM750,000 in Phase 1 with CFF elevated the nutritional content and food processing qualities of crops such as Bambara Groundnut, Moringa Oleifera, and Millet Landrace Bario. This work led to the development of the ASSESSCROP database and 10 new food products, laying the groundwork for Phase 2 with UNM, which focuses on research,
capacity building, and expanding opportunities for underprivileged women.
This phase of the project places a strong emphasis on the involvement of women entrepreneurs in enhancing the processing potential and nutritional value of underutilised crops, which supports sustainable agricultural practices and economic empowerment. Through the support of WoW, the project helps develop profitable and sustainable business models for selected B40 families, significantly improving community well-being and promoting a more resilient food system.
In recognition of these women’s potential in contributing to community development, RM50,000 in seed funding was provided by YSD to 25 women entrepreneurs from Taman Medan Cahaya, empowering them to become key contributors to their communities. This funding was complemented by capacity building programmes by WoW, encouraging significant skills transfer and practical application. All 25 participants have seen substantial growth in their monthly incomes and successfully returned 30% of their seed funding to fuel further community initiatives, particularly in nutritional education and outreach.
Speaking on the partnership, Dr Yatela Zainal Abidin, CEO of YSD shared, “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. We provided 25 women entrepreneurs with startup funds and training to boost their monthly income sustainably. YSD had also supported two PhD scholars who are crucial to UNM’s ongoing research efforts in this field. The launch of the food processing facility further facilitates the research work and processing of these alternative, climate-resilient crops
to meet food needs, and reduce reliance on imports. Since its beginnings with CFF and its transition to UNM, I must say that ASSESSCROP has truly reached new heights!”
“Our collaboration with YSD highlights our joint commitment to empowering communities and addressing food security concerns. The UNM-YSD Food Processing Pilot Facility is a key initiative that offers UNM students and researchers hands-on opportunities to engage in food development and innovation, fostering a learning environment that bridges academic theory with practical application, enhancing our mission to drive impactful research and community development,” said Professor Ir. Dr Mohd. Shahir Liew, Vice Provost of Research and Knowledge Exchange of UNM.
“This facility serves as a resource for UNM researchers and students, providing opportunities for food development and scaling-up food-related projects. This enables us to test innovative ideas related to food processing, experiment with local crops, and develop new food products. The facility bridges research with practical applications, supports local entrepreneurs, and advances both better nutrition and sustainability,” said Dr Lim Yin Sze, Project Lead of Phase 2 of the ASSESSCROP research project.
Posted on 30th September 2024