@ AGROBiz | JULY-AUGUST. 2026

TOWARDS FOOD RETURNS: COSAFS 2026 highlighted the need to strengthen the entire food chain, from research and production to processing and market access.( Photo from: UKAS)

Minister for Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Datuk Seri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom said achieving that target would require a shift away from subsistence farming towards commercially driven agriculture, with stronger links between production, processing and markets.

" For many years, our farming practices were largely subsistence-based. We have changed that by focusing on returns,” said Rundi at the opening of the 3rd Congress on Sustainable Agri-

• Sarawak wants to become a net food exporter by 2030, shifting agriculture from subsistence farming towards a more commercially driven sector.

• COSAFS 2026 highlighted the need to strengthen the entire food chain, from research and production to processing and market access.

• SAF2026 aims to connect agropreneurs with markets while promoting food security.

culture and Food Security( COSAFS) 2026 held on Aug 3.

" Every single drop of sweat must be translated into dollars and cents.”

FROM FARM TO MARKET

Rundi said farmers could produce quality crops but would continue to face limited returns if agricultural development stopped at the farm gate.

Seasonal oversupply, weak downstream industries and restricted market access can push prices down and leave producers with little room to improve their earnings.

BUILDING HOPE: A look at the early stages of AgriHub @ Gedong

A farming model developed through collaboration between researchers and local communities in Gedong is set to be replicated at other strategic locations in Sarawak as the State looks to turn agricultural research into practical results.

Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg said the AgriHub @ Gedong approach had shown how research, innovation and community participation could be combined to improve farm productivity and support wider food security goals.

" Building on the encouraging progress achieved in Gedong, the AgriHub approach will continue to be extended to other strategic locations, supporting Sarawak ' s broader agenda for sustainable agricultural development," he said when officiating the 3rd Congress on Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security( COSAFS) 2026 on Aug 3.

Located in Kampung Lubok Punggor, AgriHub @ Gedong is a smart agriculture innovation centre spearheaded by Universiti Putra Malaysia Bintulu Campus( UPMKB). The initiative promotes good agricultural practices, modern farming technologies and the transformation of paddy cultivation.

The expansion reflects a broader push to strengthen ties between research institutions and farming communities, with UPM Sarawak playing a growing role in supporting agricultural development in Borneo.

Minister for Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Datuk Seri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom said universities and research institutions must go beyond generating knowledge and develop solutions that address real agricultural challenges.

He highlighted AgriHub @ Gedong as an example of research being translated into practical applications through cooperation involving government agencies, industry and local stakeholders.

The development of local expertise is also being prioritised. Abang Johari said establishing the School of Veterinary and Animal Science( SVAS) would strengthen Sarawak ' s capacity in veterinary medicine, animal health and livestock development.

BUILDING LOCAL EXPERTISE

He said building human capital was essential to transforming the State ' s agri-food sector, particularly as Sarawak seeks to establish a more resilient food system.

Rundi said including the 18th International Society for Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods( ISNFF) Conference in COSAFS 2026 also