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AgBiotech & Food
The Malaysian Biotechnology Corporation (MBC) will be throwing its collective weight behind the expansion of biotechnology in agriculture in line with the National Biotechnology Policy (NBP). According to Iskandar Mizal Mahmood, CEO of the MBC, the ultimate goal of the NBP is to allow Malaysians from all walks of life ultimately enjoying the fruits of the success of the surge in the industry. He reminded reporters that Malaysia is a huge untapped agriculture treasure trove that is waiting for the right moment to be unveiled to the world.
 
The climate of invention is stronger than ever if market trends were to be of any indication as two seventeen year old girls are about to commercialize their first invention and launch it into the US and European market. The invention, an anti-bacterial food cover, is set to be launched into the US market soon by expressAsia Bhd., a Multimedia Supercorridor status company.
 
           
Environment  
Once recognized in the 1960s as one of the major nesting sites for leatherback turtles with around 10,000 nesting per annum, Rantau Abang is now being cited as a textbook case of turtle population crash as the number of sites today are extremely rare. Malaysia is home to four other species, including the hawksbill, the loggerhead, the olive riley and the green turtle. With the turtle population dwindling, the need for conservation is pressing as the hawksbill and the leatherback being listed as “critically endangered” and the rest “endangered” by the World Conservation Union.
 
Drastic times call for drastic measures and the Fisheries Department are employing a radical new method releasing hatchlings at Pantai Remis by releasing them when they are five months old. Though the move has been criticized by certain quarters as conservationists believe that the survival instincts of the endangered reptiles diminish with the overstay at the hatchery. However, assistant fishery officer of the Fisheries Department in charge of the project, Izharuddin Ariffin believe that the hatchlings stand a better chance than newborns.
 
Investment & Trade
With the current support by the Government with the numerous incentives in place, biotechnologists are being urged to start the push for industry research and development. With the announcing of the National Biotechology Policy and the establishment of a solid framework of intellectual property, the industry is being expected to grow rapidly in the near future.
Even so, there has been much activity lately in the investment scene as it sees the setting up of a vaccine plant by India’s Bharat Biotech International Ltd. at the end of the year at the Seri Iskandar Pharmaceutical Park. This has been hailed as a boost for the local industry. Similarly, Inno Biologics Sdn. Bhd. has committed itself to the construction of a RM100 million biopharmaceutical complex in a move which may help lower drug costs and ease the burden of the Ministry of Health. With such healthy growth in the industry, investors are optimistic of the development and growth of the multi-million dollar field.
 
Policy & Industry
With the annual Biotechnology Industry Organisation (BIO) taking place in Kuala Lumpur, the Government continues its aggressive push to be a hub for biotechnology in the region. Other than sending a delegation of 100 members headed by Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Jamaludin Jarjis, the government would also be in negotiation with venture capitalists that may attend the conference to scout for intellectual property rights that may help jump start the industry. Such an approach is supported by BiotechCorp CEO, Iskandar Mizal Mahmood who further listed the advantages Malaysia has to attract investments and secure contracts in research and manufacturing, urging industry players to tap into Malaysia’s biotech advantage.
 
On the other hand, Biotechnology Asia 2005 Organising Chairman Datuk Ahmad Ithnin publicised the establishing of its Innovation Awards aimed at recognising achievements and innovations in industry research. Datuk Ithnin hopes that the awards would further encourage the growth and commercialisation of the industry. Biotechnology Asia 2005 will take place at the Putra World Trade Center from August 16-18 this year.
 
It is time for the industry to tap into the herbal riches our land has to offer, advised Dr. Abdul Reezal, CEO of KL Biotech Sdn. Bhd. With the recent aggressive promotional campaign waged by local beverage companies and herbal medicine suppliers, the herbal industry has been given greater awareness that the biotechnology sector may ride on in its quest to the top. The lack of research institutions and biotech companies spearheading this current wave makes it the perfect opportunity for industry players to position themselves at the helm.
 
 
The controversy behind the introduction of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in food and its labeling has been dogging the industry for quite some time now with no indication of weakening. According to consumer groups, the need to label such products are the basic rights of the consumer to know, so that an informed choice may be made when shopping for food.
However, as ideal some ideals and legislation may sound, the task is exceedingly complex. Mahaletchumy Arujanan, programme director of the Malaysian Biotechnology Information Center (MABIC) believes that the standardization, testing and certification of the detailed process should be done before mandatory labeling can be enforced. All of this is a colossal undertaking that may be further complicated with the low detectability of highly processed food. Even so, the consumers would be bearing the ultimate costs of the detection process that would be added to production costs.
 
Medical & Health

There has been much to celebrate about recently in University Sains Malaysia as it unveiled its latest invention, NeuralMammo, an improvised early diagnostic device for breast cancer. Comprising of image processing and intelligent diagnostic tools, the device would be ideal for fast and effective mass screening programs. It is estimated to cost around RM20,000 to RM30,000 and boasts a scale of 99% accuracy, 97% sensitivity and 100% specificity. However, USM researchers are in the midst of the fine-tuning process and would take a little longer before the device would actually hit the market.

 
Malaysian poultry has been officially declared free of avian flu by international health experts who recently arrived for a conference in Kuala Lumpur. It was pointed out that Malaysia’s “stamping out policy” which included culling of birds, surveillance and follow-up work has been successful in stamping out the deadly outbreak which was first detected on 17 August last year.
 
The health experts from FAO, OIE and the WHO who are attending the FAO/OIE/WHO Consultation of Avian Influenza and Human Health also unveiled a blueprint to halt the spread of the bird flu virus. The plan includes the education of farmers and their families about the dangers of high risk behaviour, ensuring the segregation of different species, providing compensation and/or rewards for farmers who report suspected cases of the flu and apply control measures, and pursue vaccination of poultry flocks.
Amid such good news, Malaysia hasn’t been resting on its laurels. In fact, the government has been taking several cautionary steps as a measure to curb such outbreaks from happening again from setting off a pandemic if the bird flu should mutate. A committee was set up to look into the procedural responses that should be taken if the unlikely event of a large-scale infection should occur. The panel, called the National Pandemic Preparedness Plan would be headed by director-general of Health, Datuk Dr. Ismail Merican.