The Director General of the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI), YBhg. Dato’ Dr. Haji Mohamad Zabawi bin Abdul Ghani, delivered a public lecture titled “Global Food Systems: Challenges and Innovations” at Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara (UMSU) on Thursday (April 9) at the campus on Jalan Muchtar Basri No. 3, Medan.
The event was warmly welcomed by UMSU Rector, Prof. Dr. Agussani, M.AP, accompanied by Vice Rector II Prof. Dr. Akrim, M.Pd, the Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture Prof. Dr. Ir. Wan Arfiani Barus, M.P, along with vice deans, faculty leaders, the Head of OIC Rafieqah Nalar Rizky, M.A, a representative from PUSKIIBI Yudha Andriansyah Putra, S.P., M.P, and students as participants.
In his remarks, Rector Prof. Agussani expressed appreciation for the visit of the MARDI Director General and his delegation, emphasizing its importance in strengthening academic collaboration and advancing agricultural sciences.
He also expressed hope that MARDI would continue to excel in developing educators and sharing the latest advancements in agriculture.
“We are truly fortunate that MARDI, a renowned institution in Malaysia, is willing to share its knowledge with us. It would be a great loss if we did not make the most of this opportunity for academic enrichment,” he said.
The Rector also briefly highlighted UMSU’s ongoing efforts to obtain recognition from the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC), enabling its medical graduates to pursue careers internationally.
He further emphasized that the existing partnership between UMSU and MARDI should continue to grow through collaboration among faculties, study programs, and lecturers, particularly in education and research.
Meanwhile, the MARDI Director General noted that this was his second visit to UMSU.
“Alhamdulillah, I can now meet Rector Agussani in person. I have missed coming here. Hopefully, this visit will further strengthen the relationship between MARDI and UMSU,” he stated.
He also expressed gratitude for the warm reception and the ongoing collaboration in education and research between the two institutions.
During his presentation, the MARDI Director General highlighted that agriculture is a fundamental pillar of human life due to its direct link to food availability.
Key points discussed included the challenges of global agri-food systems, particularly in addressing food security crises and climate change; the transformation of agri-food systems through innovative approaches to ensure global food resilience; and the integration of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), drones, and farm automation. He also emphasized innovation in developing climate-resilient crop varieties, as well as the development and commercialization of high-value downstream food products to enhance the competitiveness of the agricultural sector.
This public lecture is expected to serve as a strategic step in strengthening international collaboration while enhancing academic and research capacity in agriculture at UMSU.
