SERDANG, Dec 20 - Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) and Farm Fresh Milk Sdn. Bhd. formed a collaboration to establish an Industry Centre of Excellence (ICOE) at Farm 16, University Agricultural Park, UPM. 

Through the collaboration, UPM-Farm Fresh would develop an Agro Tourism Centre to expose students to the dairy industry and to instill interest towards agriculture among the younger generation.

The Edu Tourism Centre would also demonstrate the processing techniques, food technology and marketing through the factory built here, in UPM.

UPM Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Datin Paduka Setia Dato’ Dr. Aini Ideris, said UPM is proud of the project as it allows UPM to collaborate with Malaysia's largest milk producer and supplier.

“This smart partnership is a model of cooperation involving the public sector, in particular, the cooperation between a university and a private sector entity that brings the industry into the campus. The partnership formed in this project is essential to boost the learning process and research in various aspects related to dairy products,” she said.

She said the ICOE Dairy Farm would be packaged as an agro-tourism project.

"Through this package, visitors can enjoy the experience of being on a dairy farm and enjoying elements of agritourism, especially recreational activities such as petting zoo and enjoying a variety of dairy and livestock-based foods," she said.

Chief Operating Officer of Farm Fresh Milk Sdn. Bhd., Azmi Zainal, said the collaboration has allowed Farm Fresh to introduce the latest technology and trend in the dairy industry and enhanced research activities in the field of dairy farming with regard to production, processing and branding, distribution and sales.

"I hope the ICOE Dairy Farm will encourage the younger generation especially those in UPM to join the dairy industry in the future, and that this farm will be a major attraction in line with UPM's initiative," he said.

The collaboration has also allowed Farm Fresh to provide assistance to UPM through TPU by building and repairing infrastructures in the farm as well as in helping to maintain UPM's pastoral plots.

“We are also helping TPU, UPM to obtain livestock at a lower price. When the project is fully operational, UPM's name will also be printed on every ICOE project-based dairy product,” he said.

The soft launch of UPM-Farm Fresh Dairy Farm Industry Centre of Excellence (ICOE) was officiated by the Chairman of the UPM Board, Tan Sri Dr. Ghauth Jasmon. Also present was the Director of TPU, UPM, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yahya Awang.

Farm Fresh Milk Sdn. Bhd., under its parent company, Holstein Milk Company Sdn. Bhd., started this project in 2017 with 130 cows in UPM in September 2019, and as of November 2019, the number of cows had reached 418. - UPM