Smart Solutions for Food Security: UMPSA’s Award-Winning Innovation
Following their success in winning a silver medal at the International Innovation & Invention Competition 2024 (IIICe2024) at the national level, a team from Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA), led by Dr. Chuan Zun Liang from the Centre for Mathematical Sciences, extended their previous project in agriculture economics and engineering to compete at the international level in the International Innovation Competition (INNOCOM V), organized by the Academic International Dialogue (AID).
Unlike IIICe2024, this time the team comprised only three undergraduate students—Tham Ren Sheng (Faculty of Industrial Management), Abraham Lim Bing Sern (Centre for Mathematical Sciences), and David Lau King Luen (Centre for Mathematical Sciences)—without industry collaboration. Competing in the Science & Technology category at the professional level, they submitted an extended abstract, innovation report, poster, and recorded presentation video by February 6, 2025, followed by a virtual Q&A session on February 20, 2025, evaluated by two panels.
For this competition, the team presented "A Smart Food Security Monitoring and Predicting Algorithm for Rice Productivity in Southeast Asia," modifying the endogenous variable from rice production (IIICe2024) to rice productivity, leading to new insights. Their project aligned with four United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): No Poverty (SDG 1), Zero Hunger (SDG 2), Good Health and Well-Being (SDG 3), and Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8). Their remarkable efforts earned them a silver medal and the Best Extended Project award, surpassing the team’s previous achievement in 2021, when a project led by Dr. Chuan Zun Liang won a bronze medal and the same special award. Although the team had an opportunity to publish their extended abstract in a selected journal, they chose to seek publication in a higher-indexed journal for greater academic impact. They express their sincere gratitude to AID for the valuable learning experience and to the Centre for Mathematical Sciences and Faculty of Industrial Management for their continuous support.
Author: Dr Chuan Zun Liang