KENINGAU: Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) has established a dedicated livestock feed research centre in Keningau, marking a strategic move to strengthen Sabah’s food security agenda through science-driven, sustainable agriculture.
The Animal Feed Research and Innovation Centre (Afeedri), located at the UMS EcoFarm in Apin-Apin, is positioned as a “living laboratory” that integrates advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) into livestock feed research and smart farming practices.
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UMS Vice-Chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Kasim Mansor said the centre goes beyond being an additional campus facility, describing it as a major leap in developing livestock feed research in a systematic, sustainable and industry-relevant manner.
“Afeedri is designed to become a centre of excellence for research, development and commercialisation of sustainable agricultural models, while also serving as a hands-on learning platform for students and researchers,” he said at the centre’s official opening.
According to Kasim, the centre aims to bridge the long-standing gap between academic research and real-world industry needs by fostering collaboration among academia, industry players and farming communities.
He said Afeedri will also anchor the broader EcoFarm ecosystem, functioning as a learning farm, industry reference centre and demonstration site for modern agricultural technologies, while supporting the production of highly skilled graduates for Sabah’s agrotechnology and livestock sectors.
The launch coincided with the introduction of EcoFarm Industry Day, a networking platform bringing together industry operators, local farming communities, researchers, students and government and private agencies.
The event featured technology exhibitions, expert knowledge-sharing sessions and showcases of UMS research innovations with commercial potential, opening doors for strategic partnerships between the university and industry.
Kasim said the initiative is expected to contribute to local socio-economic development while reinforcing Sabah’s food security through more focused and applied research.
Also present were EcoFarm Management Centre director Associate Prof Ts Dr Januarius Gobilik and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) Prof Ir Dr Rosalam Sarbatly.
