LOS BAÑOS, PHILIPPINES, 13–16 April 2026 — Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mohammad Effendy Yaacob from Smart Farming- University Driven Research Program (UDRP) recently represented Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) at the 2026 SEARCA Agri-Innovator Program (AIP), held at the SEARCA Headquarters, University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) Campus, Los Baños, Philippines.

The four-day intensive regional program gathered innovators and representatives from Southeast Asian universities to strengthen the linkage between academic research and market-ready agricultural solutions. Organized by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), the AIP focused on technology transfer and commercialization, including key topics such as licensing strategies, technology valuation, and intellectual property (IP) policies.

A highlight of Dr. Effendy’s participation was his pitch presentation on Agrivoltaic Mushroom Technology, an innovative approach that integrates mushroom cultivation with solar photovoltaic (PV) structures to simultaneously advance food security and renewable energy goals. Throughout the program, he refined the commercialization pathway for this technology, focusing on valuation methods, identifying potential industry partners, and navigating IP frameworks to support large-scale adoption within the private sector.

The program concluded with a “Meet the Diplomat” session and a final panel review of university-specific innovation outputs. Dr. Effendy’s engagement in AIP 2026 strengthened UPM capacity to transform food and agriculture prototypes into impactful, real-world technologies that can thrive in a competitive market.

His participation underscores UPM’s ongoing commitment to driving innovation and entrepreneurship in agriculture, bridging research excellence with real-world economic and societal impact.

Date of Input: 17/04/2026 | Updated: 17/04/2026 | ainzubaidah