The Star, 6 February, 2007

Agri sector benefits most from biotech advancement in Malaysia

SERDANG: The agriculture sector is the biggest beneficiary of biotechnology advancement efforts in Malaysia, according to Plantation Industries and Commodities parlimentary secretary Datuk Dr Vijayaratnam S.Seevaratnam. 

He said the use of biotechnology in agriculture, especially in the production of commodity crops, could ensure higher productivity and yield, and sustainable agriculture. 

“As Malaysia identifies the agriculture sector as the economy's third engine of growth, we must consider increasing productivity and controlling pests, diseases and unfavourable cultivation conditions through biotechnology advancement,” he said at the launch of Malaysian Biotechnology Information Centre's (Mabic) new direction and logo on Tuesday. 

Mabic, set up in 2000, is the country's first non-profit organisation for biotechnology promotion.  

Malaysia aspires to be a key biotech player globally under the National Biotechnology Policy launched in 2005.  

By 2020, the biotechnology sector will create 28,000 new jobs and contribute to about 5% of Malaysia's gross domestic product. 

MABIC programme director Mahaletchumy Arujanan said MABIC aimed to be a gateway to public understanding of biotechnology and provide “scientifically accurate and fact-based resources to stakeholders, namely ministries, government agencies, public and private universities and research institutions.”  

Mabic, which was funded by international foundations and various non-profit agencies, is also the local chapter of the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) global network based in the Philippines. 

Tuesday also saw the launch of ISAAA's publication, Global Status of Commercialised Biotech/Genetically Modified Crops: 2006, in conjunction with the principal launch in India last month.