Latest news with #WilliamChen
CNA
11-08-2025
- Science
- CNA
NTU researchers using cloud technology to develop tools for food safety
Scientists in Singapore are harnessing special viruses that kill only bacteria to keep food safe for longer. The use of phage technology is also aimed at tackling the growing problem of anti-microbial resistance in food. Used with cloud-based AI tools, bacterial contamination can be potentially cut by more than 90% in just half an hour. Professor William Chen and Professor Chen Lin from NTU's Food Science and Technology Programme shared more about using cloud-based tools in food applications.
CNA
23-07-2025
- Business
- CNA
CNA938 Rewind - Strengthening Singapore's agriculture sector
Local farms are doing their best to churn out fresh produce for Singapore's 30 by 30 goal, but many face the lack of demand stemming from low consumer awareness. From simpler farming methods, to bringing in new food options, Andrea Heng and Hairianto Diman speak with Professor William Chen, Director of Food Science and Technology, NTU to see how farms can adapt to a weak demand.
Focus Malaysia
17-06-2025
- Business
- Focus Malaysia
Sabah named most outstanding state, N. Sembilan recognised as most progressive at IBR ASEAN Awards 2025
SABAH and Negeri Sembilan have emerged as top performers in governance and development, earning national recognition for their strategic planning, economic progress and public service delivery. Their achievements will be formally recognised at the upcoming International Business Review ASEAN Awards (IBRAA) 2025 where both states are set to receive top honours for their exceptional contributions to Malaysia's growth story. Sabah will receive the 'Most Outstanding Malaysian State' award for 2024 while Negeri Sembilan has been recognised as the 'Most Progressive State'. The awards are part of a new initiative to acknowledge state-level excellence in governance and development in the prestigious IBR ASEAN Awards which sees participation from renowned companies and government agencies across Southeast Asia and beyond. Traditionally focused on honouring corporate leadership and achievements in public-private partnerships, IBRAA has expanded its scope this year to include state governments that have demonstrated exceptional performance and commitment to the people. The selection of award recipients was based on information collated from states that submitted the necessary documentation. Case studies were developed by Expert Advisors, a consultancy firm appointed to conduct this survey, which then compiled detailed reports on state-level initiatives. The final decisions were made by an adjudication panel consisting of experienced professionals and regional figures. Award with merit Sabah was selected as the 'Most Outstanding State' based on its achievements in economic growth, infrastructure, environmental sustainability, public welfare and good governance guided by the structured and far-reaching Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) development plan. Sabah is now firmly positioning itself as an industrial state by 2040 with available data backing that ambition. The state recorded the highest manufacturing sector growth rate in Malaysia at 4.4% in 2023, recovering from a contraction the previous year. Foreign direct investment (FDI) in Sabah saw exponential growth by soaring from RM132.7 mil in 2023 to over RM1.078 bil in 2024. A key industrial hub, the Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park is now operating at 90% occupancy, housing 288 investors and creating over 14,600 jobs for Sabahans. Major players such as South Korea's SK Nexilis (M) Sdn Bhd and China's SBH Kibing Solar New Energy (M) Sdn Bhd have invested more than RM7 bil in Sabah, drawn by the state's industrial potential and streamlined processes. 'These investors were able to obtain all the necessary approvals and begin construction within about seven months. This is something that has never been done before,' said Datuk Phoong Jin Zhe, Sabah's Minister of Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship. SBH Kibing Solar New Energy (M) Sdn Bhd chairman William Chen said the group's decision to invest in Sabah was due to its strategic logistics location at the heart of Southeast Asia, access to vital resources like silica sand and natural gas, and the incredible support provided by the state government. In terms of public development, Sabah has been proactive. The Rumah Mesra SMJ housing programme which targets the hardcore poor will see 3,000 units built this year. The state is also investing RM470 mil into the education sector this year with a clear focus on youth development. In environmental governance, 62% of Sabah or 4.6 million hectares, remains under forest cover. The state has also strengthened legislation and institutional frameworks, introducing 83 strategies and 295 actions to manage land and marine resources. 'Under Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor's leadership, long-term non-compliant licenses have been terminated and half a million hectares returned to the state government,' said Datuk Frederick Kugan, Chief Conservator of Forests of the Sabah Forestry Department. 'This is a major achievement for sustainable governance.' Sabah's conservation efforts are further supported by its progress on protected areas. It has expanded its Totally Protected Areas (TPAs) from 12% in 2007 to 27% in 2024, bringing it closer to the 30% global target under the Kunming-Montreal Biodiversity Framework. Apart from these achievements, the state had also signed a Commercial Collaboration Agreement (CCA) with state-owned oil giant PETRONAS which resulted in more than RM3 bil in oil and gas (O&G) payments in 2023. Tourism also showed a strong rebound with international arrivals and tourism receipts increasing by 47% following the pandemic. Meanwhile, the state has seen improved basic infrastructure with a rural electrification rate of 96.83% with full coverage targeted by 2030. To reinforce the rigour of the awards process, the IBRAA 2025 organisers have clarified that evaluation was based on independent case studies and verifiable performance data, not on paid submissions. 'What impressed us most about Sabah's transformation was the sheer depth and structure of the SMJ plan,' said Datuk Seri Azman Ujang who is chairman of the Adjudication Panel. 'It's not just a vision, it's a detailed, well-monitored strategy that touches on nearly every facet of development.' He added: 'Sabah submitted one of the most comprehensive dossiers we've ever received. That level of care and preparation speaks volumes about the calibre of leadership and governance in the state.' 'Most Progressive State' Meanwhile, Negeri Sembilan was recognised as Malaysia's Most Progressive State for its long-term development planning and consistent growth efforts. The state's transformation is anchored by the Rancangan Struktur Negeri Sembilan 2045 (RSNS 2045) and Malaysia Vision Valley (MVV) 2.0, both of which aim to strengthen regional connectivity and economic diversity. Negeri Sembilan is currently home to more than 60 industrial parks, many of which are nearing full capacity, with over 900 companies from more than 20 countries currently operating in these parks. When contacted, Negeri Sembilan Tourism, Arts and Culture executive councillor Nicole Tan Lee Koon said she was proud that her state had been recognised as Malaysia's Most Progressive State. 'This recognition is a testament to the state leadership that saw the successful implementation of RSNS 2045 and MVV 2.0 which is expected to contribute up to 15% of Malaysia's GDP and create over 600,000 jobs,' revealed Tan who is also the two-term Bukit Kepayang state assemblywoman. The awards will be presented at a gala event scheduled to be held on July 19 at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC). Themed Reimagining ASEAN, the event coincides with Malaysia's ASEAN Chairmanship for 2025 and is expected to attract government leaders, diplomats, business executives and other distinguished guests from the region. The IBRAA 2025 gala is expected to be attended by key government and corporate figures from across ASEAN. As it is, Sabah seems to be on the brink of a major transformation. If the current momentum continues, we can expect to see a new Sabah which is strong, strategic and firmly anchored in its promise to the rakyat. With continuity and time, Sabah can become one of the region's most dynamic success stories. – June 17, 2025 Post-script: The IBR ASEAN Awards secretariat serve not only to celebrate past achievements but also to inspire continued excellence among ASEAN's public and private sector leaders. Nominations are still open for other categories in the IBRAA 2025, including corporate excellence, public-private partnerships and leadership awards. Organisations across ASEAN are invited to submit their entries by June 30. Nominations can be submitted online at For more information, the organisers can be reached at 012-861 9126 or 012-433 9914. Main image credit:
AsiaOne
06-06-2025
- Business
- AsiaOne
'A transitional phase': Food security expert not worried by drop in local production of vegetables and seafood, Singapore News
The challenges facing Singapore's agriculture sector — which have led in a dip in local production of vegetables and seafood — reflect a transitional phase for local farms, a food security expert told AsiaOne on Friday (June 6). Professor William Chen, director of the Nanyang Technological University's (NTU) Food Science and Technology Programme, added that it is still "premature" to deem the Government's goal of producing 30 per cent of the country's nutritional needs locally by 2030 a failure. On Thursday, a report released by the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) showed that just three per cent of the vegetables consumed in Singapore were grown locally, down from 3.2 per cent in 2023 and 3.9 the year before. Local production of seafood dropped from 7.3 per cent in 2023 to 6.1 per cent in 2024, which SFA attributed in its Singapore Food Statistics report that it is partly due to the "restructuring of a few fish farms in Singapore". Prof Chen said while the findings from SFA's report looks "disappointing", he sees several positive signs which are encouraging to the sector. Local production of eggs increased by 13 per cent in 2024. The three farms in Singapore produced 34.4 per cent of all eggs consumed in 2024, up from 31.9 per cent. Prof Chen's echoed SFA's observation that the increase is due to farm upgrades and improve operational efficiencies. "We've been (producing eggs) since the late '60s, and over the years we have gone through technological adoption and integration… and now we only have three egg farms but we produced so much more eggs," he said. Like eggs, vegetables saw an increase in productivity in 2024 — from 227.2 tonnes per hectare per year in 2023 to 231.4 tonnes per hectare per year in 2024. Seafood productivity also saw an increase of 38.6 tonnes per hectare per year in 2023 to 40.7 tonnes per hectare per year in 2024. While overall output has declined, Prof Chen noted that the increased efficiency in local vegetable and seafood production is an "encouraging" development. "The number of farms is lower over the years, but the willingness to adopt technology is higher," he said. "What we see now is a transition… we must let go some traditional practices to free up space for new players with higher level of technology readiness." Speaking to the media, Damian Chan, chief executive of SFA, said that the broad plan for the sector is to focus not on the number of farms in Singapore, but on ensuring that farms can be productive and financially viable. This is done through the $60 million Agri-food Cluster Transformation Fund, which will help farms adopt technologies such as advanced, automated farming equipment and infrastructure. "High productivity farming is still a nascent sector in Singapore and globally as well. So it needs more time to develop, mature and for our farms to evolve their business models to make it more economically viable for them," said Chan. 'Too early' to write off 30 by 30 goal Since 2019, Singapore has had an ambitious "30 by 30" goal yesterday to produce 30 per cent of Singapore's nutritional needs locally by 2030. But in March, then Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment Koh Poh Koon said that the target is being reviewed. While local food production in 2024 made up less than 10 per cent of total demand, Prof Chen said it is still too early to write off the Government's plan for the sector. External factors, such as the Covid-19 pandemic and geopolitical tensions, have disrupted the global supply chain, he added. "So, if we look at everything as a whole, we are only talking about two, three years of progress," said Prof Chen. He added that, just like how egg production in Singapore took years to bear fruit, the Government's plans on leveraging technology in local farms take time to be economically viable. "The number is there as a goal, to align people together. It's not for people to come back and question, 'how come we could not make it right?'" [[nid:718214]] chingshijie@
CNA
05-06-2025
- Business
- CNA
Local production of vegetables and seafood falls in 2024
The proportion of locally produced food that is consumed by Singaporeans has fallen, except for eggs. While local farms boosted their yields slightly, there is still work ahead for Singapore to produce 30 per cent of its nutritional needs locally by 2030. Professor William Chen, Director of the Singapore Agri-Food Innovation Lab and Director of the Food Science and Technology Programme at NTU, discusses the latest food statistics. He talks about Singapore's "30 by 30" goals, what the statistics indicate about the progress towards it and if there is a need to reassess the target.
