USM Free Access to Sustainable Food Security, Agriculture, and Aquaculture Knowledge

Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) continues to strengthen community resilience and food sustainability by providing free access to food security, agriculture, and aquaculture knowledge, skills, and technology for local farmers and food producers. Through a series of community-based and government-supported programmes, USM ensures that scientific research is translated into practical applications that directly benefit livelihoods and promote Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2: Zero Hunger and SDG 14: Life Below Water.

Introductory Workshop on Sustainable Aquaculture for Oysters and Sea Cucumbers

From 27 to 29 May 2024, the Centre for Marine and Coastal Studies (CEMACS) reinforced its commitment to sustainable aquaculture through a free training programme designed to empower local fish farmers and coastal communities. Supported by three Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) community research grants, the initiative translated academic knowledge into hands-on technical expertise focused on sustainable aquaculture management.

Participants from Langkawi, Merbok, Morib, and Muar took part in the Introductory Workshop on Sustainable Aquaculture for Oysters and Sea Cucumbers, gaining practical experience in oyster farm management, depuration system operation, feed formulation, water quality monitoring, and disease control. These modules helped participants develop the capacity to manage aquaculture systems more efficiently while ensuring product safety and ecological balance. By offering the training free of charge, CEMACS provided local farmers and producers with direct access to food security knowledge and sustainable aquaculture practices that improve livelihoods, productivity, and environmental resilience.

Projek Kampus Tani (Campus Urban Farming Project)

On 31 January 2024, USM launched the Projek Kampus Tani (Campus Urban Farming Project), a free training initiative organised in collaboration with the Penang State Department of Agriculture. Coordinated by the School of Biological Sciences and monitored by the Division of Industry & Community Network (BJIM), the programme aimed to equip local food producers and staff with practical, sustainable farming knowledge.

Participants learned hands-on horticultural techniques such as cocopeat flushing, seedling propagation, and nutrient solution preparation. Within two weeks, seedlings were successfully transferred to tabletop fertigation systems, enabling the cultivation of healthy local vegetables such as salad greens, spinach, mustard, water spinach, and Chinese kale.

By offering the programme at no cost, USM ensured that essential agricultural knowledge and technologies were directly accessible to the community, enhancing urban food self-sufficiency and empowering participants to adopt sustainable practices that strengthen local food systems.

Through free, directly supplied training programmes and capacity-building initiatives, Universiti Sains Malaysia demonstrates its commitment to improving access to sustainable food production knowledge for local farmers and producers. By bridging academic research with community empowerment, USM continues to lead in fostering inclusive, practical, and sustainable solutions for food security and rural development.