The Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) Green Apple team secured first place in the Malaysian round of the ASEAN-China-India Youth Leadership Summit 2025 with their innovative food waste solution, FoodUp — a low-cost system using black soldier fly larvae to reduce waste and emissions while generating income — which, despite being their first competition, earned them the honour of representing Malaysia at the Grand Finals in Singapore this October.

The Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) team, Green Apple, has triumphed by securing first place in the Malaysia rounds of the prestigious virtual ASEAN-China-India Youth Leadership Summit (ACIYLS) 2025 with their innovative project, FoodUp.

The team from the Asia Pacific Centre of Robotics Engineering (APCoRE), made up of students from Petroleum Engineering, Mechatronic Engineering, and Electrical and Electronic Engineering — Teh Jie Yee, Haithm Abdulgani Hussein Al-Bakri, Tng Kah Hong, and Wong Yong Jien — was mentored by Ts Suresh Gobee, Head of APCoRE. 

Competing under the name Green Apple, they faced strong competition from around 150 participants across 38 teams in the Malaysian round.

Their victory means they will proudly represent Malaysia at the Grand Finals in Singapore this October, where 120 young leaders from 12 countries will converge.

For the Malaysian round, the team presented a clever, low-cost waste management solution that utilises black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) to tackle urban food waste. 

This approach not only reduces landfill waste but also curbs greenhouse gas emissions, while creating a sustainable income stream.

Teh Jie Yee reflected on their debut in the competition, explaining that the team’s strength lay in blending innovation with practical application. 

“FoodUp stood out because it offers a real, scalable, and cost-effective way to upcycle 100% of food waste using BSFL and anaerobic digestion. We demonstrated its technical feasibility and supported it with a detailed financial plan that surpassed existing solutions,” he said confidently.

Drawing on hands-on project experience, Green Apple convinced the judges that FoodUp was not just theory, but it was ready for real-world impact. 

“It took countless hours of brainstorming, refining, and constructive debate, but that process sharpened our ideas and turned our teamwork into our greatest asset,” Jie Yee shared.

The competition also taught them to approach problems from fresh angles. By applying critical and design thinking, the team uncovered hidden challenges in current food waste systems, gaps often overlooked by existing solutions and users alike.

“Those gaps became opportunities for FoodUp to shine. For us, true innovation does not just solve the obvious problems. It addresses what is been neglected. This journey taught us to think deeply, creatively, and empathetically; skills that extend far beyond engineering,” Jie Yee explained.

The road was not without its hurdles. The team faced moments of frustration as new challenges arose just when they thought they had found the perfect solution.

“But those setbacks pushed us to go further, test harder, and refine smarter. Seeing our hard work come to life and ultimately being crowned Malaysia’s champion, made every struggle worthwhile.”

“This competition was a pivotal moment for us. It gave us the space to enhance our problem-solving, design thinking, teamwork, and resilience. More importantly, it reminded us that engineering is not just about numbers, but it is about creating impactful solutions for the world,” added Jie Yee.

Looking ahead, the Green Apple team is eager to continue their journey, taking part in more competitions to hone their skills and expand their learning.