International, non-profit research and innovation institution WorldFish has signed Memorandums of Understanding with Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) and Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) to encourage and promote cooperation in research and knowledge transfer activities for the sustainable development of aquatic food systems between the respective organisations.
Collaboration between WorldFish and UPM dates to 2000 when the two organisations along with other partner organisations worked on the Reefs at Risk in Southeast Asia project.
On the significance of the two MoUs, WorldFish Acting Director of Aquatic Foods Biosciences Dr John Benzie said it was only natural that the MoUs with UPM and USM should be renewed.
“Our institutions have much in common with regard to producing innovations to transform aquatic food systems to be more sustainable and resilient for a growing population in a changing climate. We look forward to scaling the innovations by Malaysian researchers to the countries where WorldFish works in,” he said.
UPM Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation Professor Nazamid bin Saari said that over the last several years, several programmes have been established in the field of research by individual institutions on both sides and that they would continue to complement each other’s strategic work, especially in the areas of fisheries and aquaculture.
This will be through USM’s research institute, the International Institute of Aquaculture & Aquatic Sciences (I-AQUAS).
Since the first MoU was signed between the two in 2002, WorldFish and USM have worked on projects including the sensory evaluation of Genetically Improved Farmed Tilapia (GIFT) – a fast-growing strain of tilapia developed by WorldFish and partners through selective breeding – and red tilapia cultured in ponds using quantitative descriptive analysis to accumulate technical data on the farming of tilapia to assist the Malaysian government in its efforts to increase tilapia production.
WorldFish Interim Director General and CGIAR Acting Senior Director of Aquatic Food Systems Dr Essam Yassin Mohammed said, “Our mission to end hunger and advance the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals through science and innovation to transform food, land and water systems with aquatic foods for healthier people and planet will be supported by fostering collaboration with universities in Malaysia, where WorldFish has been based for 22 years.
“Renewing the MoUs with both universities for a period of 10 years shows our commitment to working with Malaysian institutions to achieve a food-secure future for all.”
An MoU exchange ceremony was held at the WorldFish headquarters in Batu Maung, Penang.
