Centre for Research in Biotechnology for Agriculture - CEBAR

30/09/2026

How Can We Grow Food Differently in Our Cities?

Yesterday, the CEBAR team visited Agroz EduFarm, Agroz Group Sdn. Bhd., to learn how hydroponics, vertical farming, and controlled-environment agriculture are being used to grow leafy greens in an urban environment.

Located at AEON Alpha Angle in Wangsa Maju, Agroz EduFarm brings farming into the city, combining agricultural technology with public education and hands-on learning. The facility was recognised by the Malaysia Book of Records in 2024 as Malaysia's largest indoor vertical farm in a shopping mall.

🥬 For CEBAR, seeing these technologies in practice provides valuable perspectives on how plant science, agricultural biotechnology and controlled growing systems can intersect to address challenges in food production and urban agriculture.

The visit also provided an opportunity to exchange ideas with the Agroz team and explore potential areas where research expertise and industry experience can come together.

🤝 Our thanks to Agroz Group Sdn. Bhd. for welcoming the CEBAR team and sharing their experience in bringing technology-enabled farming closer to urban communities.

29/09/2026

Building New Connections in Science, Technology & STEM 🇲🇾 🤝 🇨🇳

CEBAR was pleased to welcome a delegation from the Hainan Association for Science and Technology (HAST), China, led by Xu Wei, Vice Chairman of HAST.

The delegation also included Liu Jie, Director of the Department of Science Popularisation; Li Xuexue, First-Level Principal Staff Member, Department of Sci-Tech Innovation; and Wang Jing, First-Level Principal Staff Member, Department of International Affairs.

The visit provided a valuable opportunity to exchange perspectives and explore potential areas of collaboration in science and technology, research exchange, STEM education, science engagement, and innovation.

For CEBAR, international engagements like this offer opportunities not only to build research connections, but also to exchange ideas on how science, technology, and innovation can be communicated and brought closer to students and the wider community.

🤝 We thank Vice Chairman Xu Wei and the HAST delegation for visiting CEBAR and for the productive discussions. We look forward to continuing the conversation and exploring opportunities to develop these connections into meaningful future collaborations.

28/09/2026

🏆🌱 Congratulations to Dr Purabi and Team!

We are pleased to share that a CEBAR team led by Dr Purabi, together with Dr Norhafiza, Siti Nur Akmar and Dr Wong Gwo Rong, has been awarded an ETF Community Grant by the Malaysian Plant Protection Society (MAPPS).

Community engagement is an important part of connecting scientific knowledge with real-world needs. This grant gives our researchers an opportunity to extend CEBAR’s expertise beyond the laboratory and contribute to the community through knowledge sharing and engagement.

👏 Congratulations to Dr Purabi and the team on this achievement, and our sincere appreciation to MAPPS for supporting community-oriented initiatives.

We look forward to seeing the team bring this initiative to life and sharing its impact with the community!

28/09/2026

🌱 What is CEBAR?

We are the Centre for Research in Biotechnology for Agriculture (CEBAR) at Universiti Malaya.

At CEBAR, we use biotechnology and plant science to address challenges in agriculture. Our research spans areas such as:

🌱 Understanding how crops respond to environmental stresses
🧬 Applying biotechnology for crop improvement
🧪 Exploring plants as platforms for producing high-value biomolecules
🍌 Studying and conserving valuable plant genetic resources
🌿 Developing solutions for more sustainable and resilient agriculture

But research does not stop in the laboratory.

We work with universities, industry, government agencies and communities to exchange knowledge, build partnerships and translate scientific discoveries into meaningful applications for agriculture and society.

🔬 Follow CEBAR to discover the people, science and innovations behind our work—and how biotechnology can contribute to the future of agriculture.

24/09/2026

🌱 Plant Molecular Farming and Biotechnology Symposium 2026

Yesterday, the Centre for Biotechnology in Agriculture Research (CEBAR), Universiti Malaya, was pleased to organise the Plant Molecular Farming and Biotechnology Symposium 2026, bringing together researchers and experts to share knowledge, ideas, and perspectives on plant molecular farming and biotechnology.

We were delighted to welcome Dr Nazrin Abd Aziz from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) as our invited speaker. He delivered an insightful Invited Lecture entitled: “Stable and Transient Expression of Toxoplasma Immunoglobulin in Mucuna bracteata and Nicotiana spp.”

The symposium was officiated by Assoc. Prof. Dr Boon Chin Tan, Director of CEBAR.

We were also delighted to welcome Dr Nadiya Baharum, Dr Yvonne Liew, Dr Mahanom Jalil, Dr Ahmad Husaini Suhaimi, and Dr Nur Kusaira Khairul Ikram. Thank you for joining us and contributing to the scientific exchange and discussions.

Our sincere thanks to Dr Nazrin, all invited speakers, participants, and the organising team for making the symposium a valuable platform for knowledge exchange, scientific discussion, and networking.

📸 More highlights from the symposium are coming soon—stay tuned!

24/09/2026

🍌🌿 Jom Jadi “Banana Hunter”!

Tahukah anda bahawa Malaysia mempunyai kepelbagaian pisang liar yang penting sebagai khazanah biodiversiti dan sumber genetik untuk penyelidikan serta pemuliharaan?

CEBAR akan menganjurkan Bengkel Pemuliharaan Pisang Liar melalui Citizen Science: Banana Hunter, yang memperkenalkan bagaimana pendekatan citizen science dapat melibatkan masyarakat dalam usaha mengenal pasti, merekod dan membantu memulihara pisang liar.

📅 Tarikh: 27 September 2026 (Ahad)
⏰ Masa: 9.00 pagi – 1.00 petang
📍 Tempat: Rumah Kelab Persatuan Alumni Universiti Malaya (PAUM)

Melalui inisiatif Banana Hunter, kami berharap dapat meningkatkan kesedaran tentang kepentingan biodiversiti pisang liar serta menggalakkan penglibatan masyarakat dalam usaha pemuliharaan berasaskan sains. 🍌🔬

Mari bersama-sama meneroka, mengenali dan memelihara khazanah pisang liar Malaysia!

23/09/2026

During CEBAR’s recent visit to the Nara Institute of Science and Technology (NAIST), Japan, CEBAR Director Dr Tan Boon Chin delivered a lecture titled “Deciphering Drought Responses in Banana.”

The lecture shared insights into how banana plants respond to and adapt to drought stress, providing an opportunity to exchange scientific perspectives with NAIST students and researchers🌱

Beyond the research discussions, the visit also provided a meaningful opportunity to meet and interact with Malaysian students currently studying at NAIST. 🇲🇾🇯🇵

It was a pleasure to hear about their experiences, exchange perspectives and encourage them as they continue their academic and research journeys in Japan.

We thank NAIST for providing this opportunity for scientific exchange, knowledge sharing and engagement with the next generation of researchers.

22/09/2026

🚀🌱 CEBAR at URIIS 2026!

CEBAR researchers Dr Lau Su Ee and Dr Purabi Mazumdar represented the Centre at the University Research & Innovation Investment Summit (URIIS) 2026, held from 21–23 September 2026 at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur.

URIIS 2026 brings together universities, industry, investors and other stakeholders to connect research and innovation with opportunities for investment, commercialisation and real-world impact.

For CEBAR, platforms such as URIIS offer valuable opportunities to engage with potential partners, explore emerging technologies and industry needs, and identify new pathways to translate research in agricultural biotechnology and plant science beyond the laboratory. 🌱🔬🤝

Thank you to Dr Lau and Dr Purabi for representing CEBAR and connecting with the wider research, innovation and industry ecosystem.

We look forward to turning these connections into meaningful collaborations and impactful research opportunities.

21/09/2026

We are pleased to share a new research article by CEBAR researchers, published in Physiology and Molecular Biology of Plants:

📖 “Molecular, spatio-temporal, and functional characterisation of SOC1-like genes in banana using Arabidopsis as a heterologous system”

Flowering is a critical developmental transition in plants, yet the molecular mechanisms regulating this process in banana remain less well understood.

The study characterised three SOC1-like genes in banana (MaSOC1-1, MaSOC1-2 and MaSOC1-3) and examined how their expression changes across developmental stages and plant tissues. Functional analysis using Arabidopsis thaliana further showed that overexpression of MaSOC1-2 promoted earlier flowering, providing evidence for its role in floral transition. 🌱🌼

👏 Congratulations to Nur Fatin Husna Mohd Yunos, Aisyafaznim Al-Idrus, Dr Najiah Mohd Sadali and Dr Nur Ardiyana Rejab on this publication!

🔗 Read the article: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12298-026-01820-5

Suppressor of Overexpression of Constans 1 (SOC1), a MADS box transcription factor is a flowering integrators that orchestrates the transition of a plant from the vegetative phase to the flowering phase. This flowering integrator was isolated from banana, and the spatio-temporal expression of three....

20/09/2026

Last week, the CEBAR team visited the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), as part of our ongoing collaborative research project.

The project is led by Associate Professor Ts. Dr Tan Cheng Siang from UNIMAS, with Associate Professor Dr Boon Chin Tan from Universiti Malaya serving as co-lead.

During the visit, researchers from both institutions shared research updates, discussed ongoing experimental work and project progress, and planned the next steps of the collaboration.

The discussions involved Dr Siti Zaleha Raduan, Dr Muhammad Wahizul Haswan Abdul Aziz, Dr Surisa Phornvillay, Dr Su-Ee Lau, Dr Yvonne Liew and Vaenessa, together with the project leads.

This collaboration brings together complementary expertise from UM and UNIMAS in plant molecular biotechnology and recombinant protein production, strengthening knowledge exchange and research capacity between our institutions.

We look forward to continuing this partnership and advancing the research towards meaningful scientific outcomes! 🤝