NAFEC 2025 Kicks Off, Showcasing Innovations in Agri-Food Engineering

KOTA MARUDU, SABAH, 27 SEPTEMBER 2026 —

Malaysian researchers publish 11 new studies on food innovation and agricultural efficiency at the National Agricultural and Food Engineering Convention (NAFEC) 2025.

The findings, published between March and May 2026 in Food Research, cover wild edible plants, meat processing, food preservation, and sustainable farming techniques—offering solutions to rising food costs, waste reduction, and health concerns in Malaysia’s agri-food sector.

Eleven research papers were presented at NAFEC 2025, each published in Food Research between March and May 2026. The studies include:

- Wild edible plants: Sapawi et al. documented traditional consumption practices of wild edible plants in Kota Marudu, Sabah, highlighting indigenous knowledge that could support food security. - Meat processing innovations: Fu et al. examined how intermittent mixing with rice flour as a fat replacer affects chicken meat sausage quality. Pangestika et al. compared chia and basil seeds as fat substitutes in buffalo meat patties, while Yi-Li et al.

tested ultrasound and bromelain treatments to improve buffalo meat tenderness. - Salt alternatives: Shaikh Ahmad et al. evaluated table salt, Celtic Sea salt, and salt flakes for their impact on buffalo meat patties’ physicochemical and sensory properties. - Fat reduction techniques: Asyrul-Izhar et al. studied how mixing time influences buffalo patties’ properties when olive oil replaces fat. - Food preservation: Suleiman et al.

explored spray-drying encapsulation to preserve carotenoid-rich wolfberry juice, while Ahmad Salim et al. assessed cobalt-60 gamma irradiation on rice flour and rice cake properties. - Postharvest solutions: Wahid et al. found that Heterotrigona itama propolis coating reduces anthracnose and extends wax apple shelf life. - Sustainable farming: Hafidha et al. analyzed a hole-punching machine for plastic mulch in shallot production, while Gui et al. tested alkaline electrolyzed water for meat processing sanitation, emphasizing environmental impact.

All studies were published under the Food Research journal’s NAFEC 2025 special issue, with DOI links ranging from 10.26656/fr.2017.10(S1).1 to 10.26656/fr.2017.10(S1).12.

The research aligns with Malaysia’s push for self-sufficiency in food production, particularly in Sabah’s rural communities and the livestock sector. Key findings on fat reduction, waste minimization, and traditional food practices could influence policy and industry standards. The next step for some researchers, including those studying wild edible plants and propolis coatings, may involve field trials or collaboration with local farmers and food processors.

Related: Kota Marudu, Sabah