The Verdict

The herbal industry in Malaysia has seen some strong pushes in recent years to incorporate biotechnology into its folds. According to readers polled recently, 72% of readers polled believed that the herbal industry deserve biotechnology status, while 18% disagreed. This is generally due to the perception that there is much to be done for the industry as 35% of readers believed that our herbal industry should not be considered high tech, this is contrasted by 42% who believed so, and a further 16% who maintained that it should be on a case by case basis.

However, readers were unanimous in their view that more research should be carried out on herbs before they should be commercialised. However, 53% agreed that simple extractions and standardisation does not merit for biotechnology status, compared to 39% who disagreed with the statement.


Herbal Industry

1. Do you think our herbal industry deserves the biotechnology status? Yes - 28 votes (72 %) No - 7 votes (18%) Maybe - 4 votes (10%) Don't know - 0 votes (0%) Total votes - 39

2. Would you consider our herbal industry to be high-tech? Yes - 14 votes (44 %) No - 11 votes (34%) Maybe - 5 votes (16%) Don't know - 2 votes (6%) Total votes - 32

3. More research needs to be carried out on herbs before they are commercialized. Do you agree? Yes - 30 votes (97 %) No - 0 votes (0%) Maybe - 0 votes (0%) Don't know - 1 votes (3%) Total votes - 31

4. Simple extraction and standardization of herbal compounds does not merit for biotechnology status. Do you agree? Yes - 19 votes (52 %) No - 14 votes (39%) Maybe - 2 votes (6%) Don't know - 1 votes (3%) Total votes - 36

5. Are you comfortable with the current development and status of the herbal industry in Malaysia? Yes - 3 votes (10 %) No - 20 votes (64%) Maybe - 5 votes (16%) Don't know - 3 votes (10%) Total votes - 31

The herbal industry in Malaysia has seen some strong pushes in recent years to incorporate biotechnology into its folds. According to readers polled recently, 72% of readers polled believed that the herbal industry deserve biotechnology status, while 18% disagreed. This is generally due to the perception that there is much to be done for the industry as 35% of readers believed that our herbal industry should not be considered high tech, this is contrasted by 42% who believed so, and a further 16% who maintained that it should be on a case by case basis. However, readers were unanimous in their view that more research should be carried out on herbs before they should be commercialised. However, 53% agreed that simple extractions and standardisation does not merit for biotechnology status, compared to 39% who disagreed with the statement. Readers were generally uncomfortable (65%) of the current development and status of the herbal industry in Malaysia, while 10% felt otherwise. A further 16% professed the possibility while a further 10% did not feel so.