The Monash Neoaktif Smart Agriculture Research initiative now advances beyond academic partnership into structured field implementation, in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture Pulau Pinang, through a live research programme.
At the centre of this effort is the Smart Agriculture Research and Experience Centre – SAREC, a live field platform designed to validate smart irrigation, soil analytics, AI driven scheduling and remote monitoring under real world conditions. SAREC is not merely a test site. It is a demonstration and learning centre built for replication, confidence building and long-term scalability.
Our field deployment is located in Bukit Mertajam, a historic mainland town that began as an agricultural settlement in the nineteenth century before evolving into a key transport and commercial hub. Overlooking the region is Bukit Mertajam hill, rising approximately 545 metres above sea level, the highest point on mainland Penang.
Today, farming operates within a rapidly industrialised corridor on highly weathered tropical clay rich soils, making it a meaningful proving ground for resilient agricultural systems.
At the Seberang Perai Tengah Department of Agriculture district office, the programme was formally presented by Associate Professor Dr Raghunandan, Principal Investigator from Monash University, together with members of the Monash research group. Dr Dana Amirthalingam of Neoaktif presented the broader industry strategy and long-term mission, connecting ESG philosophy, academic rigour and field deployment into a cohesive pathway toward responsible scalability in support of food security and sustainable cities.
With the support and participation of District Agricultural Officer, Mr Mohd Hafiz Bin Jaafar and his technical team, the engagement moved beyond discussion. Augering tests and technical site surveys were conducted by our Monash Team to obtain first hand soil data for structured analysis and documentation, ensuring the programme is grounded in local conditions.
The collaboration was marked by the presentation of the Neoaktif ESG Community Plaque, symbolising shared stewardship and institutional trust.
This represents industry, academia, government and farmers advancing together in a modern “gotong royong”, strengthening food security, building agricultural resilience and accelerating natural carbon sequestration for long term community impact.
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