2.5 – National hunger

2.5.4 – Sustainable Food Purchase

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) is strongly committed to promoting sustainable food procurement practices across its campus as part of its dedication to supporting local farmers, responsible sourcing and food security. All food-service procurement for our campus catering facilities is conducted with suppliers who hold valid halal certification, verified via the MyEHALAL portal. This requirement forms part of our Ethical Sourcing Policy, ensuring that purchased food materials comply with religious dietary standards and support traceability, food safety and ethics. By integrating this with additional criteria (such as health-focused menus, reduced packaging and local supply where feasible), UKM demonstrates a comprehensive sustainable food-purchase approach. At present, 100 % of our major food-service supply contracts stipulate halal-certified suppliers and we monitor renewal and compliance on an ongoing basis

With approximately 46 cafeteria operators at UKM Bangi campus, the majority of food ingredients including poultry, meat and vegetables, are sourced directly from local supermarkets and farmer’s markets, such as the Bandar Baru Bangi Farmer’s Market and CS Supermarket, located just 9 km from campus. About 80% of UKM cafeterias rely on these local suppliers, including Fresh Ayam King, Bangi Agro and Sin Min Agro Sdn. Bhd., which are among Malaysia’s leading producers of fresh and high-quality food products. Through these efforts, UKM strengthens its food supply chain resilience and contributes to the growth of Malaysia’s local agro-based economy.

UKM Supply Chain Management on Cafeteria Food

There are about 46 cafeteria operator companies at UKM Bangi campus. The cafeteria at UKM uses raw materials such as chicken, meat and vegetables in preparing food for all UKM residents. The raw materials supplied to this cafeteria are obtained from local supermarkets as well as local farmers. 80% of the UKM cafeterias obtain their fresh produce from the two main sources in which are CS Supermarket (9 km away from main campus) and the Bandar Baru Bangi Farmer’s market where the merchants are made up of local farmers.

80% of the UKM cafeterias obtain their fresh produce from the two main sources, which are CS supermarket (9.1 km away & 15 minutes from UKM Bangi) and the Bandar Baru Bangi Farmer’s market where the merchants are made up of local farmers.

In relation to this, for every type of raw materials identified, fresh produce suppliers such as Fresh Ayam King, Bangi Agro and Sin Min Agro Sdn Bhd are examples of leading fresh produce suppliers in Malaysia especially in the Klang Valley region.

Example of Malaysia Suppliers in Fresh Produce (Poultry, Meat, Fruits & Vegetables):

Type of Raw Materials	Supplier	Website URL
Poultry (Chicken, Egg)	Fresh Ayam King	https://www.freshayamking.com/
Meat	Bangi Agro	https://bangiagro.com.my/
Fruits and Vegetables	Sin Min Agro Sdn Bhd	sinminagro.com

SUPPORT ON LOCAL FARMERS’ PRODUCT

UKM always encourages cafeteria operators to obtain supplies of raw materials from local farmers. The Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (FAMA), operating within the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, contributes to the growth of both domestic and global marketing sectors. Its primary focus is to enhance the market size of agro-food products such as vegetables, fruits, flowers, to which the food industry products are available and obtainable at prices that consumers can afford. 

One of the programs organized by FAMA is the FAMA Fest 2024@Selangor held on 27 – 30 June 2024. This program was to help consumers obtain goods at prices much lower than the market rate. Some local products have discounts of up to 30%. Local produce such as poultry, fish, fruits and various vegetables can be obtained by the public, including the UKM community.

FAMA Fest also was held in seven different locations around Malaysia which is Selangor, Perak, Sarawak, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Kelantan and Kuala Lumpur. This program has benefited 808 entrepreneurs and was enlivened by the presence of 459,417 visitors.

Through its sustainable food purchase strategy, UKM demonstrates a clear commitment to building an inclusive and responsible food ecosystem that benefits both the university community and local farmers. The university’s continuous support for locally sourced produce not only stimulates the regional economy but also ensures that the UKM community has access to fresh, affordable, and nutritious food. Initiatives such as FAMA Fest 2024, which benefited 808 entrepreneurs and attracted 459,417 visitors nationwide, further reinforce UKM’s alignment with SDG 2 (Zero Hunger). By integrating sustainable procurement, community engagement, and local partnerships, UKM continues to serve as a model institution for advancing national food sustainability and empowering local producers.