BY VIVYNNA ANN CHABU
NATURAL compounds in the biodiversity of the state could prevent viral infection, specifically SARS COV 2, according to research findings.
Minister of Education, Innovation and Talent Development (MEITD) Datuk Seri Roland Sagah Wee Inn said the Sarawak Biodiversity Centre (SBC) had collaborated with Sarawak Research and Development Council (SRDC) in 2022 and yielded an encouraging outcome.
“This discovery not only indicates promising prospects for the future but also underscores its potential financial benefits,” he said in his ministerial winding-up speech today.
On another development, he said scientists from CRAUN Research have found that rice can now be formulated with starch from sago.
“If you do not have a discerning taste, you will not be able to differentiate between ordinary rice and sago starch rice,” he said, adding the effort by CRAUN Research would provide an opportunity to address food security and diversify sago products.
Later, when speaking to reporters at a press conference, he said CRAUN Research conducted the research for the past two years.
“This rice from sago product is yet to be commercialised and it is still at a lab stage,” he said, adding it has yet to determine whether the product is cheaper compared to ordinary rice.
Sagah also said a huge amount of sago is required to produce enough rice for this product.
“We have sago and with that we always try to look into any product that we can produce from sago,” he said.
Meanwhile, Sarawak Tropical Peat Research Institute (TROPI) director Datuk Dr Lulie Melling who was also present at the press conference, explained that sago is the most famous perennial starch crop in the world.
“If you grow sago once, it can be used unlimitedly. Meanwhile rice is more sensitive to environmental situations but sago palm is less sensitive,” she said.
