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March-April . 2024 | @ Halal
Agriculture
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The additional universal appeals of the halalan toyyiban concept in agriculture and agroindustry include the following :
• Animal welfare and a guaranteed humane way of slaughter- reduce animal stress and increase meat quality .
• Traceability and transparency in the supply chain- for halal certification , proper labelling and tracking systems are a focus that gives consumers great confidence in food safety and halal compliance .
• Fair labour standards and ethical sourcing - farmers and other significant agricultural sector stakeholders ought to guarantee their employees ’ fair and ethical treatment . It includes offering a safe workplace , equitable compensation , and additional benefits like robust grievance mechanisms and adequate training opportunities .
• Play a key role in promoting local and regional food systems- by decreasing reliance on imports and fostering more robust food systems , such as supporting the production and processing of halal products locally .
• Encourage more conscious consumption practices among communities- by consuming locally sourced , sustainable , and halal products and only indulging when necessary . Dr Betania also highlighted encouraging conscious consumption practices that are aligned with sustainable development goals and Islamic stewardship principles .
“ Embracing sustainable practices can revolutionise the entire food system , from farm to fork . The integration of halalan toyyiban and conventional agroindustry practices forms the foundation of the halal agroindustry ,” she said .
Furthermore , according to the Global Islamic Economy Indicator ( GIEI ), Malaysia is among the top 10 countries that are wellpositioned to address global agriculture opportunities .
The halalan toyyiban concept also aligns with the 2030 UN-SDGs ( United Nations Sustainable Development Goals ), stressing the responsibility to safeguard the planet for future generations .
THE ONE HEALTH APPROACH
Dr Hidayu aimed for a more forward-thinking approach by combining the halalan toyyiban concept with the One Health ( OH ) approach .
“ This collaborative method acknowledges the intricate connection between human , animal , and environmental health , promoting a holistic perspective in agricultural practices where food safety is one of its core tenets .
“ One Health emphasises the necessity of breaking down silos between diverse disciplines .”
THE FUTURE OF HALAL STANDARDS
As part of her future goal , Dr Hidayu is pursuing a halal certification to address challenges in aquafeed production , including non-halal components and genetically modified crops .
She believes establishing halal standards for aquafeed is vital , considering reports of non-permissible ingredients in commercial feeds over the years .
“ These non-permissible feed ingredients were reported mainly in Malaysia , Thailand and Taiwan .
“ Global concern regarding halal animal feed spans various complexities , such as integrating non-halal elements , incorporating growth enhancers / hormones , medications , vaccines , and antibiotics , and utilising genetically modified ( GM ) crops in feed compositions .
“ Bear in mind that fish fed with commercially produced feeds containing animal proteins and by-products , such as blood , tissue , or bone , along with food waste streams might contain materials from porcine sources or animals not subjected to Islamic slaughter ,” Dr Hidayu concluded .
Dr Betania and Dr Hidayu pointed out INHART wished to embrace sustainable halal agriculture in Malaysia to ensure adherence to Islamic principles and contribute to food security , ethical farming practices , and a healthier planet for future generations . –