The Star, Thursday July 12, 2007

Improving Oil Palm Yield

KUALA LUMPUR: A local company has partnered with an internationally renowned genomic science research company to help improve oil palm production through genome technology.
Through this biotechnology partnership, Malaysia is expected to see double yield within seven years compared with the current average of 3.7 tonnes per hectare.
The research will also help oil palm increase resistance to pest and diseases such as the ganoderma microbe which feeds off the roots of the oil palm trees.
The multi-year research and development joint venture between Asiatic Centre for Genome Technology Sdn Bhd (ACGT) and US-based Synthetic Genomics Inc (SGI) will see the two embarking on a genome-sequencing programme to sequence and analyse the entire oil palm genome (genome is the total genetic content in an organism).

Working together: The strategic partners receiving an oil palm fruit to symbolise the joint venture between ACGT and SGI as Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Dr Jamaluddin Jarjis (third from left) looks on. Also looking on are (from left) Lim, Dr Patrinos, Malaysian Biotechnology Corp Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Datuk Iskandar Mizal Mahmood and Dr Cheah.

ACGT, which has a BioNexus status, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Asiatic Development Bhd, which is Genting Bhd's plantation arm.

Genting Bhd chairman and chief executive Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay said the genetic make-up of oil palm could be identified through genomic research, which could result in creating a breed of high yielding crop.

“Understanding the oil palm's unique DNA sequence enables scientists to increase its yield as well as improve its oil composition to meet food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical market demands,” he added.

ACGT chief scientific officer Dr Cheah Suan Choo said that current local research efforts to sequence oil palm covered only 20% of the whole oil palm genome.

She said they expected sequencing to be completed within 18 months but more needed to be done after that and it would be about six to seven years before commercialisation.

Oil palm biomarkers will be identified to help increase production.

The venture was officially announced yesterday during the Malaysian Biotechnology Corporation Sdn Bhd Eminent Speakers Series, which featured SGI president Dr Aristides Patrinos, a world-renowned figure in the study of human and microbial genome.