BANGI, 7 May 2026 – A total of 80 students from Universiti Putra Malaysia participated in the Agricommodity Squad Launching Ceremony held at the headquarters of Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) as part of efforts to strengthen student involvement in the nation’s agricommodity sector while increasing youth awareness of the importance of the agriculture and commodity industries to national development.

The prestigious ceremony was officiated by Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia. Also present at the event was Noraini Ahmad together with representatives from government agencies, industry players and higher education institutions from across the country.

The participation of UPM students in this programme provided opportunities for undergraduates to deepen their understanding of agricommodity industry development, food security, modern agricultural technology, and the potential of the commodity sector as one of the country’s major economic contributors. The programme was also seen as a platform to nurture students who are more aware of current issues related to sustainable agriculture and community development.

Throughout the programme, participants took part in various interactive activities and informative sessions, including industry briefings, professional sharing sessions with MPOB officers, and introductions to the functions and direction of the Agricommodity Squad initiative. In addition, students participated in interactive quizzes using the Kahoot! platform, which successfully attracted participants through a fun and competitive learning approach related to the nation’s agricommodity sector.

The atmosphere of the programme became even more lively as participants joined a treasure hunt activity conducted around the programme venue. The activity not only tested participants’ knowledge and creativity, but also fostered teamwork, communication and leadership skills among university students.

The Student Affairs Division (BHEP) of UPM described student participation in programmes such as this as an important platform for cultivating leadership values, volunteerism and greater understanding of current industry needs, while also expanding strategic networking opportunities with government agencies and industry players.

BHEP UPM also expressed appreciation to MPOB for its invitation and commitment in ensuring the success of a programme that contributes to the character development and competency enhancement of UPM students, in line with the university’s aspiration of producing holistic, competitive and community-oriented graduates.