Bridging sectors to nurture a greener future

The World Environment Day fell on 5 June 2025, and the university commemorated it with the “2025 Industry-Academic Collaboration Forum” at UTAR Kampar Campus.

Dean of the Faculty of Science (FSc), Assoc Prof Dr Lim Tuck Meng, delivered a welcome speech urging participants to share the commitment to build a sustainable and cleaner future together. He expressed, “Today, the urgency to act has never been more pressing. Our world faces mounting environmental challenges, climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, and the depletion of vital resources. These threats go beyond nature alone. They impact security, public health and global economic stability. It is imperative that we adopt sustainable practices that cross all sectors, especially in agriculture and food production, which lie at the heart of human survival and wellbeing.”

He added, “Nurturing a green earth is not the responsibility of governments alone. It requires the collective effort of individuals, communities, industries, and academia. Universities like UTAR are uniquely position to lead these initiatives through research, innovation, and education that align with our environmental goals. Today’s forum is a testament to this commitment, bringing together key stakeholders to share knowledge, explore sustainable solutions, and forge collaborations that can drive real-world impact. This year, we have the privilege of hosting representatives from both industry and academia to discuss how collaboration can accelerate sustainability particularly within the agriculture and food sectors. Through the sessions today, we aim to deepen our understanding of SDG and ESG initiatives, and uncover opportunities for research partnerships, consultancy, and meaningful public engagement.”

Themed Nurturing a Greener Earth, the forum emphasised the need to protect and preserve the environment. This call to action gathered industry experts and academics to discuss sustainable efforts that can contribute to improving the health, well-being, and economic development of communities worldwide. The moderator for the forum was FSc academic Dr Ong Mei Kying.

Fulfilling the objective to broaden awareness and foster responsible environmental conduct among participants, each speaker also shared their respective topics of expertise. The Office of International Affairs Director, Assoc Prof Dr Lai Soon Onn, highlighted the impacts of UTAR’s industry-academic collaboration initiatives. He spoke of UTAR’s strong partnerships with various industries from 38 economies, and the contribution to research and development, consultancy, human capital development, talent development, and curriculum development.

Meanwhile, Faculty of Engineering and Green Technology (FEGT) Deputy Dean for Academic Development and Undergraduate Programmes Assoc Prof Ir Ts Dr Leong Kah Hon drew attention to the importance of industry collaboration for progressing ESG initiatives. He elucidated, “Industry collaboration matters in ESG progress because it enables access to real-world data and practical ESG challenges, scalable impact, and the combining of resources for innovation aligned with SDGs. Other areas that UTAR is interested to collaborate with the industry to strengthen its ESG commitment, include, but are not limited to, renewable energy, carbon footprint analysis, waste management, inclusive workforce development, mental health support, community outreach, corporate integrity, transparent reporting, and risk management systems.”

The talk titled Concept and Activity of Chitose Agriculture in Southeast Asia by Mr Kyosuke Kinoshita, who is the director of Chitose Agri Laboratory Sdn Bhd, and the director of Chitose Agriculture Co., Ltd., focused on Chitose Agriculture’s efforts to promote sustainable agriculture in Southeast Asia by integrating advanced bioproduction technologies with ecological principles. He outlined initiatives like microalgae-based biofuel, bio-based raw materials, and circular agriculture systems that recycle organic waste to enhance soil health. Through partnerships with local farmers, hotels, and retailers, Chitose Agriculture seeks to meet rising demands for high-quality, safe food while simultaneously reducing the environmental footprint of agriculture. He also explained the company’s emphasis on innovation and community collaboration, which highlights their commitment to fostering a greener earth by harmonising economic growth, social well-being, and environmental stewardship.

Dato’ Lee Mook Foong, Managing Director of Trans Eco Development Sdn Bhd, discussed the significant waste generated from pineapple leaves and the harmful practice of burning them, which releases carbon emissions and pollutants. In his session titled Nurturing a Greener Earth in Pineapple Industry, he introduced pineapple leaf fibre (PALF) as a sustainable, biodegradable alternative with silk-like properties, reducing waste and carbon footprint. He explained that through circular farming, upcycling agricultural by-products, and promoting PALF, the industry can shift towards eco-friendly practices. This includes fostering local skills and community development, particularly in fibre extraction and eco-textile production, thereby creating sustainable livelihoods. His presentation also underscored the role of governance frameworks, such as MyGAP and the National Agrofood Policy 2.0, which support sustainable farming, resource efficiency, and climate resilience. Essentially, participants were given a glimpse into the opportunities of a pineapple industry in nurturing community well-being, aligning seamlessly with the goal of “nurturing a greener earth”.

FSc academic Assoc Prof Dr Tey Lai Hock presented his research, which focused on advancing eco-friendly nanomaterials through biogenic synthesis using agro-waste such as durian husk and banana leaves to create sustainable solutions like ZnO, CuO, and Cr2O3 nanoparticles. These nanomaterials are applied in wastewater treatment, smart packaging, drug delivery, and biosensors, demonstrating high efficiency, while ensuring environmental and health safety. He explained that by bridging academia and industry, the work promotes scalable, low-cost, and regulatory-compliant technologies for sectors like food tech, agrotech, and pharma, through waste-to-wealth innovation and collaborative sustainability efforts.