Awards

CME Master's students Malvin and Ng Xiao Qi from the School of Energy and Chemical Engineering secured the Gold Award (First Place) in the postgraduate category at the 11th International Biotechnology Competition and Exhibition (IBCEx25), held on 17 May 2025 at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Johor.

Malvin and Ng Xiao Qi being conferred the Gold Award by Prof. Ir. Dr. Rahmat Bin Mohsin, the Dean of the Faculty of Chemical and Energy Engineering at UTM.

This event featured top institutions from across Southeast Asia, including the University of Malaya (UM), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP), and Indonesia's leading engineering university, Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB), among others.

Their award-winning project, "FrassForward: Biofertilizer Tablets from AI-Enhanced Insect Frass Biochar-Biofertilizer Composting", combines artificial intelligence, microbial biotechnology, and circular bioeconomy to advance sustainable agriculture. Inspired by various on-going research under Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tan Jian Ping, the team developed a smart composting system that uses AI-controlled, sensor-based airflow control to accelerate the breakdown of Black Soldier Fly Larvae (BSFL) frass mixed with biochar and plant-beneficial microbes. The matured compost is compressed into compact biofertilizer tablets, designed for precision farming and ease of use.

Left: Malvin and Ng Xiao Qi presenting their award-winning project at the exhibition booth. Right: A snapshot from their live pitch on stage during IBCEx25.

"Our project shows how machine learning, biotech, and circular bioeconomy can come together to drive the future of agritech," said the team, "By turning waste into smart, precision biofertilizers, we’re building practical, scalable solutions for sustainable farming. This award means a lot - it shows the power of interdisciplinary thinking and what young innovators can achieve in sustainable agriculture."

From left: Ng Xiao Qi, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tan Jian Ping, Malvin