*Corresponding author. Email: suharnirahmat@gmail.com eISSN: 2550-2166 / © 2022 The Authors. Published by Rynnye Lyan Resources MINI REVIEW Food Research 6 (1) : 1 - 4 (February 2022) Journal homepage: https://www.myfoodresearch.com Technological achievement in the food industry in Malaysia *Rahmat, S., Chew, B.C. and Abdul Hamid, M.S.R. Faculty of Technology Management and Technopreneurship, Technology Campus, University Technical Malaysia Melaka, Hang Tuah Jaya, 76100 Melaka, Malaysia Article history: Received: 5 February 2021 Received in revised form: 26 March 2021 Accepted: 29 May 2021 Available Online: 21 November 2021 Keywords: Food sustainability, Sustainability practices, Economic planning unit, Food technology, Malaysia DOI: https://doi.org/10.26656/fr.2017.6(1).091 Abstract Issues pertaining to food sustainability have long been debated in developing countries. Food sustainability practices benefit the environment, societies and economies, yet in Malaysia food production and management are still lagging in sustainability practices. The food industry needs to explore new methods in food production because of population increase, peoples’ lifestyle, demand for healthy foods, and environmental concerns. For this reason, this review paper discussed technological achievements in the food industry to help food producers improve production. It is crucial for Malaysia to ensure sustainability in food production technology in the 12th Economic Planning Unit (EPU) projection for 2021-2025. The EPU aims to restructure and empower the existing industry. This paper discussed the food technology sub-sector focusing on agriculture and livestock in Malaysia. This focus hopes to boost existing government strategies and improve food producers’ business performance following the EPU. Here, this paper highlights the government’s involvement in technology application to help farmers’ access affordable technology via research assistance from the government. 1. Introduction Malaysia has gradually developed and improved its agriculture and food processing industries to become a net exporter of processed food. At present, the main contributors to the agricultural sub-sectors in Malaysia are poultry and paddy. Both produce are going through innovative research and development and modernisation initiatives to be transformed into high-income and sustainable industries (Malaysian Investment Development Authority, 2019). In advancing sustainability in the food processing technology, the usage of local raw materials has increased along with larger product diversification and higher investment to improve capacity in the industry. Although the food manufacturing sector in Malaysia is a critical industrial area, there is no suitable sustainability assessment method to measure food manufacturing activities (Ahmad et al., 2017). Meanwhile, the livestock industry in Malaysia hasn’t changed much. Current livestock data shows that Malaysia is experiencing shortages in fresh beef production, with higher consumer demand (Sahar and Chamhuri, 2016; Mohammad Nor et al., 2018). The reason behind this is that the livestock sector (for beef) remains uncommercialised due to low productivity. Furthermore, the private sector is inactive in this matter (beef sub-sector) and shows no interest to invest in this industry. As a result, the industry only supplies between 28 and 30% of domestic demand (Mohammad Nor et al., 2018). Similarly, local milk production only supplies less than 10% of domestic demand. This is due to low productivity and poor technology adoption. Meanwhile, rice production in Malaysia has reached about 75% self- sufficiency level (SSL) and adequately serves 60 to 65% for domestic use (Rahim et al., 2017). Moving to sustainability practices in food production, Olesen et al. (2000), Power et al. (2012), Shen et al. (2013) and Evans and Syed (2015) urged that innovation and appropriate cost-effective technology, capable to improve sustainable livestock including reducing crop loss, distribution network, market information, green innovation be implemented (Frazer, 2008). The development of cost- efficient technology development can improve energy usage whilst sustaining the manufacturing, transportation, and other economic sectors that gives significant environmental impact (Tilman et al., 2002). In other words, using sustainable technology minimises the use of natural resources, minimises wastage, saves