Published:
Our Malaysia campus School of Social Sciences (SoSS) and Computing & Programming Unplugged (CPU) organised a trip to Sime Darby Plantation Innovation Open Day at Carey Island, Klang, on 24 February 2024. The Open Day, which showcased cutting-edge technologies in agricultural practices, proved to be an enlightening and multifaceted experience for the 65 students.
The entourage was warmly greeted by Sime Darby Plantation's representatives, who started the visit by introducing oil palm processes before trailing the Oil Palm Heritage path. As the tour progressed, students explored the plantation's journey from traditional farming methods to embracing state-of-the-art technologies for sustainable agriculture. Students were introduced to a myriad of innovative practices, such as a demonstration where autonomous machines efficiently carried out tasks like planting, weeding, and harvesting with precision and speed. This hands-on experience showed how robotics are revolutionising efficiency and productivity in agriculture.
Sime Darby Plantation showcased sustainable agriculture practices by harnessing the power of natural predators, such as owls, in plantation management. Students learned how an owl, a natural predator of rodents and insects in the plantation, is leveraged to control pests and maintain ecological balance without relying heavily on chemical interventions. This approach ensures healthier crops and contributes to environmental sustainability.
Among the participants of this visit was Wee Zhen Hao, a Year 1 student of BSc (Hons) in Computer Science from the School of Mathematical and Computer Sciences (MACS), said, "Witnessing the innovative work being done, I met people from various departments working on important projects, from geospatial technology and palm oil products to machinery and drones. Their excitement about their work inspired me to discover what I'm passionate about, too!"
The innovation day concluded with interactive workshops like gamified 3D forklift training, renewable energy simulation workshop, discussion and games, providing students with a platform to engage with industry experts in exploring how technology could be integrated into the industry practices while striving to achieve a sustainable practice. The immersive experience highlights the importance of the transformative role of technology in shaping the future of agriculture while promoting ecological stewardship and innovation-driven learning.