Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) achieved an impressive success at the 9th National Agricultural and Food Engineering Convention (NAFEC 2026) after winning four innovation awards, comprising one Gold Award, one Silver Award, and two Bronze Awards.
Researchers from Universiti Kuala Lumpur Malaysian Institute of Chemical & Bioengineering Technology (UniKL MICET) emerged among the top winners at the national-level convention, which was held at Klana Resort Seremban from 12 to 13 May 2026.
The Gold Award was won by ChM. Ts. Lily Suhaila Yacob through her research on improving peat soil quality for sustainable agricultural land development.
Her study focused on strengthening peat soil, which is usually too soft and wet for farming and construction activities. By using Magnesium Oxide (MgO) and other materials, the research successfully improved the soil’s strength and stability, offering a more sustainable solution for land development.
The research began in 2023 under the UniKL Short Term Research Grant and will continue with further studies on the chemical reactions within peat soil to improve treatment methods.
Meanwhile, Dr. Nurdiyana Husin received the Silver Award for her research on producing chitosan from chitin using sustainable extraction methods.
Chitosan is a natural material widely used in industries such as food, healthcare, and environmental management due to its biodegradable and eco-friendly properties.
UniKL also secured two Bronze Awards under the Postharvest and Food Engineering category.
One of the awards was presented to Ts. Dr. Masniza Mohamed for her research on halal-compliant extraction methods for herbal bioactive compounds using environmentally friendly technology.
The study aimed to develop safer and more efficient ways to extract beneficial compounds from herbs while ensuring the process complies with halal standards. Future plans for the research include safety evaluation, industrial application, halal validation, and commercialisation.
Another Bronze Award was awarded to Dr. Nor Zanariah Safiei for her research on improving pineapple juice concentration using a freezing method instead of heat.
The method helps preserve important nutrients, flavour, antioxidants, and natural colour better than conventional heating techniques. Future research will focus on evaluating the environmental impact and energy efficiency of the technology.
Held under the theme “Revolutionising Field Operations: Automation, Digitalisation, AI & Future-Ready Technologies,” NAFEC 2026 gathered researchers, academicians, and industry experts from across Malaysia to showcase innovations in agricultural and food engineering.
