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Agriculture & Environment

A new hybrid variety of rice developed by RB Biotech has been making waves within the agriculture sector of the country for being a crucial stepping stone towards self-sufficient rice production for the country. Its capability in producing four times more yield than normal padi has been touted to have the capacity to revolutionise the rice industry which depends on imports to supply for 40% of the country’s needs. The new hybrid variety known as “Siraj” is a hybrid blend of Japanese and Indian padi strains.
 

Sarawak will be given a boost in its robust pepper industry with the construction of the world’s largest pepper mill to supplement the state’s pepper output. Sarawak is known to be the world’s fifth largest pepper producer, and produces 95% of Malaysia’s pepper output. The plant was installed at a cost of RM3.75 million, and is part of a strategic plan by the Government for prioritized development and growth.

  
         
Biodiversity is currently gaining focus as the government begins to push for young Malaysians to take up related subjects to stem the serious shortage of experts in the area of science. As the focus in science is beginning to shift towards biotechnology and other related field, biodiversity research saw a shortage of intellect interested in managing and conserving biodiversity. In retrospect, biodiversity is an important field that should be harnessed to better utilize the nation’s rich biota as Malaysian scientists begin to look towards nature for cures where chemical synthetic drugs have failed.
Industry & Investment
 
New composting technology developed by Equator Life Sciences Bhd is noted to be able to recycle bio-wastes from palm oil mills and turn it into organic fertilizer in 45 minutes. The process, hailed as the latest technological breakthrough in the organic fertilizer manufacturing industry, is known as the Instant Composting Technology and utilizes physical, chemical and enzymatic breakdown of the bio-wastes before being cooled and dried. It is not only cost-effective and efficient, but also environmentally friendly.
 
Perak looks set to become a producer of bio-ethanol, with a local company’s plans to extract the bio-fuel from the pokok nipah plant. The pioneer venture, sees the company utilizing up to 1,000 ha of the 35,000ha costal area where the palm tree is found growing. The state has announced its imposition of a RM10 annual fee for the temporary land occupation of the company to give the venture a helping push.
Papar, 40km from Kota Kinabalu will be the site supporting a biodegradable processing plant costing up to RM78 million. The plant, built on a four ha site, will use a special bacteria purchased from Canadian company, International Bio Recovery Corp, will allow the plant to not emit any smell or dangerous gases and has been praised as a good move to reduce the quantity of rubbish in the state. However, the commencing date of the plant’s construction has yet to be confirmed as an environmental impact assessment report has yet to be released by the Department of Environment.
  
 
On the other hand, Malaysia is currently courting French biotech company Urrma to be the first biotech company to set up full-fledged operations in the country. It is a deal that may put Malaysia upon the biotech world map, as the French biotech firm which is developing a vaccine for the AIDS virus, and will benefit the nation in terms of global recognition, transfer of knowledge, intellectual property rights and revenue. This may have the potential in opening the floodgates to future investments by other global companies like Pfizer, Roche, Novartis etc and may rival neighbouring Singapore on the world stage.
Policy
Penang is drawing upon strategies to help expand its fledging biotech industry, and possibly widen its international markets. Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon expounded the importance of integrating the existing industries with global biotech companies, as well as the need to push SMIs on the trail to global expansion. A bid which will see Universiti Sains Malaysia committing towards by entering the biotechnology fray through the setting up of a biotechnology park in Penang next year. The proposed park has been touted to serve as an extension of the biotechnology work being carried out by the university and has been lauded as a crucial step in helping the island state realize its biotech dreams.
 
On the other hand, the RM 500 million Malaysia Life Sciences Capital Fund was launched on September 7th 2006. The US$150 million fund has been sourced from the government is targeted at providing a push for biotech companies to help develop the industry. Such incentives have been part of the government’s plan to develop new scientific areas to move Malaysia up the global value chain, and place Malaysia upon the world biotechnology map, poised for bigger ventures.