Negeri Sembilan, 13 May 2026 – The National Agricultural and Food Engineering Convention 2026 (NAFEC2026), held from 12 to 13 May 2026 at Klana Resort, was a prestigious convention organised by the Malaysian Society of Agricultural and Food Engineers (MSAE) and the Malaysian Palm Oil Board in collaboration with various academic institutions and government agencies.

The convention brought together 93 research poster presenters from various universities and government agencies across the country. Among the participating institutions were Universiti Sains Malaysia, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Universiti Malaysia Perlis, Universiti Teknologi MARA, and Universiti Kuala Lumpur, as well as agencies such as Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI), Malaysian Rubber Board (LGM), and FGV Holdings Berhad.

The School of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia, also recorded a commendable participation by submitting five research poster entries. The team comprised Dr Mohamad Ikhwan Zaini Ridzwan, Associate Professor Dr Ahmad Zhafran Ahmad Mazlan, Dr Inzarulfaisham Abd Rahim, Ir Dr Mohd Syakirin Rusdi, and Ir Ts Dr Muhammad Hafiz Hassan, led by the Dean of the school, Associate Professor Dr Abdullah Aziz Saad.

In the poster presentation competition:

• Associate Professor Dr Ahmad Zhafran Ahmad Mazlan won a silver medal for his research titled “Numerical Investigation of DVA in Attenuating the Transmitted Hand-Arm Vibration from the Motorboat Engine”.
• Ir Ts Dr Muhammad Hafiz Hassan achieved outstanding success by winning a gold medal and the Special Innovation Award for his research titled “Smart SolDry Home: An IoT-Monitored Enclosed System for Enhanced Cowhide Drying Efficiency”.

The organisation of NAFEC2026 is seen as an important platform for strengthening collaboration between academic institutions and industry, particularly in the field of agricultural and food engineering. In addition to showcasing the latest innovations, the convention also contributes to the development of more sustainable, efficient, and competitive technologies to support the national agri-food sector.

It is hoped that social innovation projects developed through such platforms will continue to benefit the public and be further expanded in the future.

For more information about the convention, please visit the official website: NAFEC Official Website