International Conference on Agribusiness Marketing (i-CAM@2026)

SERDANG, 1 September 2026 –

The Federal Agricultural Marketing

Authority (FAMA), through its Market

Intelligence and Modernisation

Division (RMP), successfully

commenced the International

Conference on Agribusiness

Marketing (i-CAM@2026) at Hall B,

Malaysia Agro Exposition Park

Serdang (MAEPS), Selangor.

Held in conjunction with MAHA

2026, Malaysia’s premier agricultural

exhibition, the two-day international

conference, from 1 to 2 September

2026, carries the timely theme “Transforming Agribusiness in Addressing Food Insecurity: A Global Approach.”

The conference brings together policymakers, academics, researchers, industry players, agropreneurs and key stakeholders in the agri-food sector, providing a strategic platform for the exchange of knowledge, research findings, industry experience and perspectives on emerging issues affecting agribusiness, agricultural marketing and food security.

As the global agri-food sector continues to face evolving challenges, i-CAM@MAHA 2026 highlights the importance of transforming agribusiness through innovation, stronger market linkages and greater collaboration. By bringing together research, policy and industry perspectives, the conference aims to encourage practical solutions that can strengthen the resilience, competitiveness and sustainability of the agri-food sector. 

A major highlight of the first day was the keynote address by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nirote Sinnarong, Dean of the Faculty of Economics, Maejo University, Chiang Mai, Thailand, entitled “Transforming Agribusiness for Global Food Safety and Security: Innovation, Sustainability and Strategic Partnerships.” Bringing an international perspective to the conference, his keynote examined agribusiness transformation through a progression from the global context to Thailand and Malaysia, before exploring the strategic implications for the future of the sector. A central message of the keynote was that modern agribusiness can no longer be viewed solely through the lens of increasing food production. The sector must evolve towards producing food that is safe, nutritious, resilient and sustainable, supported by innovation and strong strategic partnerships.

This perspective is particularly relevant as food systems worldwide face increasingly interconnected challenges, ranging from climate change and supply chain disruptions to rising production costs, changing consumer preferences, technological advancement and concerns over the long-term availability, accessibility and affordability of food. The keynote therefore set an important context for the discussions that followed throughout the day, emphasising that transforming agribusiness requires not only higher productivity, but also greater resilience, innovation, sustainability and collaboration throughout the entire food value chain. 

Building on the international

perspective established through the

keynote address, the first day of

i-CAM@MAHA 2026 featured a

diverse line-up of research

presentations and knowledge-sharing

sessions, bringing together

perspectives from Malaysia and

across the region.

The international dimension of the

conference was reflected through the

presentation of two research papers

from Indonesia and one from the

Philippines, alongside contributions

from Malaysian universities, research

institutions and government agencies,

including Universiti Putra Malaysia

(UPM), the Malaysian Agricultural

Research and Development Institute

(MARDI) and the Department of

Agriculture (DOA).

This combination of international and local expertise enriched the conference by bringing together different research perspectives, institutional experiences and approaches to addressing common challenges within the agri-food sector. The presentations explored a broad spectrum of issues, including market development, agricultural innovation and technology, entrepreneurship, economic viability, strategic communication, market competitiveness and approaches to strengthening agri-food businesses. Together, the presentations demonstrated the multidisciplinary nature of modern agribusiness and highlighted the importance of looking beyond production to understand the wider economic, technological and market dimensions of food systems.

In addition to the oral research presentations, i-CAM@MAHA 2026 also featured a poster presentation segment, providing an additional platform for researchers to showcase and communicate their research findings. The poster presentations further enriched the conference’s knowledge-sharing environment by providing a concise and accessible medium for communicating research ideas and findings, while encouraging interaction and exchange among participants.

The participation of researchers and experts from different countries and institutions also demonstrated that many challenges facing agribusiness today extend beyond national borders. Climate change, rising production costs, evolving consumer expectations, market volatility, technological change and supply chain disruptions are shared challenges that require greater exchange of knowledge, experience and solutions across countries.

At the same time, the diversity of the presentations allowed global and regional perspectives to be considered alongside Malaysia’s agricultural priorities and market realities. This created an opportunity for participants to examine how research findings, technologies and approaches developed in different contexts could contribute to strengthening the competitiveness and resilience of the agri-food sector.