Successful Forum on Sensor Technology and Integrated Machine Learning to Address Food Insecurity and Child Malnutrition

On Thursday, 9th January 2025, the Forum on Sensor Technology and Integrated Machine Learning to Address Food Insecurity and Child Malnutrition was successfully organized by the Education to Improve Parental Feeding Practice Among Food Insecure Households (EMPEROR) Research Team in collaboration with the Centre for Population Health (CePH), under the Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya. The forum took place at the Regional Training Centre in the Western Pacific Region, located on Level 5, Block J, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, and was attended by approximately 100 participants, both in-person and online, including attendees from Malaysia and abroad, particularly from Indonesia.

The event began at 10:00 AM with a welcome address delivered by Dr Abqariyah Yahya, Senior Lecturer and Principal Investigator of the EMPEROR project from the Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya. This was followed by an opening speech by ChM. Dr Muhammad Ameerullah Bin Sahudin, Head of the Universiti Malaya Impact-Oriented Interdisciplinary Research Grant Programme (IIRG) and leader of the flagship program titled “Time-sensitive Sensor Integrated Food Rescue System Towards Combating Food Insecurity.” The forum was moderated by Associate Professor Dr Nik Daliana Nik Farid and featured a distinguished panel comprising the following experts:

Panellists highlighted the critical need for addressing child malnutrition and food insecurity through collaborative public health efforts, leveraging advanced sensor technologies to reduce food waste and optimize agricultural practices, and utilizing machine learning to streamline food rescue operations for efficient distribution to vulnerable populations.

Each panellist contributed their unique expertise, fostering a multidisciplinary discussion on the intersection of technology, public health, and food security.

The forum was conducted in Bahasa Melayu to ensure broader understanding and accessibility for a diverse audience. It saw strong participation both physically and virtually, with physical attendees including residents from KRT Kg Bukit Lanjan, while online participants included teachers from Tadika Perpaduan, reflecting the forum’s wide reach and impact across various sectors.”

The forum concluded successfully at 12.00 pm, providing a platform for meaningful dialogue and fostering collaboration among researchers, educators, and community representatives. The event underscored the potential of leveraging technology and interdisciplinary efforts to address critical public health challenges effectively. The organizers would like to extend their heartfelt appreciation to the team members of ChM. Dr Muhammad Ameerullah Sahudin from the Faculty of Science, the team members of Dr Muhammad Faiz bin Mohd Zaki and Dr Muhammad Shahreeza Safiruz from the Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology, and Dr Ahmad Ali bin Zainuddin from the Institute of Public Health, Ministry of Health. Special acknowledgement is also given to key stakeholders such as Jabatan Perpaduan Negara dan Integrasi Nasional (JPNIN), Mydin Mohamed Holdings Bhd, Kechara Soup Kitchen, as well as the teachers of Tadika/Taska Perpaduan and the parents who were directly or indirectly involved in supporting this study and contributing to the success of the forum.

This write-up was prepared by Mdm Suhaili Suboh, from the Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya.

Watch our recorded session on YouTube below.