Professor Dr. Fahrul Zaman bin Huyop, a renowned scholar in the field of nutrigenomics, recently wrapped up a productive five-day visit to the Faculty of Teacher Training and Education (FKIP) at Universitas Pattimura (Unpatti) in Ambon, Indonesia. The focus of his visit was on discussing food safety and security from a nutrigenomic perspective, shedding light on Malaysia’s government policies in this area and sharing insights from his research on honey products from both Malaysia and Indonesia.
This visit was particularly significant as it marked the first time a Malaysian academic had visited Unpatti in Ambon. The Maluku Islands, with their rich biodiversity, offer a wealth of opportunities for nutrigenomic research. The region is home to endemic plants like sago, clove, and nutmeg, as well as widely cultivated crops like corn, all of which present promising avenues for further exploration and development in the field of nutrigenomics.
The faculty at Unpatti expressed a keen interest in collaborating with researchers from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), especially in the Biosciences field. This potential partnership aims to drive innovation, address existing research gaps, and foster strategic collaborations between the two institutions. Professor Fahrul’s visit came at an opportune time, providing a platform to discuss the development of special superfoods using local plantations with academics from Ambon at FKIP.
Dean of FKIP, Professor Dr. Izaak Hendrik Wenno, S.Pd., M.Pd., extended a warm welcome to Professor Fahrul during his visit. The initiative for this visit was spearheaded by Professor Hermalina Sinay, who has had a longstanding professional relationship with Professor Fahrul, having met him at the International Conference on Biosciences & Medical Engineering (ICBME2023) in Bali, where she was an invited speaker. Professor Sinay has also made contributions to the Journal of Tropical Life Science, which is based at Universitas Brawijaya.
During his visit, Professor Fahrul engaged in discussions with both postgraduate and undergraduate students at Unpatti, sharing his expertise and insights on nutrigenomics and its applications in food safety and security. The interactive sessions provided students with a unique opportunity to learn from a distinguished expert in the field and gain valuable knowledge that can shape their academic and research pursuits.
Overall, Professor Fahrul’s visit to Unpatti in Ambon served as a catalyst for potential collaborations, knowledge exchange, and research advancements in the field of nutrigenomics. The engagement between Malaysian and Indonesian scholars holds great promise for driving innovation and addressing critical issues related to food safety and security in the region. This visit not only strengthened academic ties between the two countries but also paved the way for future collaborations that can benefit both nations in the realm of biosciences and nutrigenomics.
