KUCHING: The Sarawak government is collaborating with a Japanese company to explore the possibility of producing pharmaceutical products using algae found in the state.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said the company involved is the Chitose Group.
“Sarawak is now working with the company on how to produce pharmaceutical products based on the logical research through our algae,” he said.
He said this when officiating at the opening ceremony of the 2nd Regional Conference on Agrobiodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Utilisation (RAC2) 2024 here on Tuesday (June 11).
Abang Johari, who is also the Minister of Natural Resources and Urban Development, said apart from that Sarawak has also conducted research on algae and successfully produced algae-based fuel, namely sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for the use of aircraft.
Earlier, he said the state prioritises green energy and a circular economy as part of sustainable practices.
“Sarawak is also investing heavily in research to leverage its rich biodiversity. We have our own Sarawak Biodiversity Centre (SBC), dedicated to conserving our biodiversity and conducting research to benefit humanity,” he said.
He also emphasised the crucial role of research and technology in agriculture and the food industry.
Malaysia has a good research culture, he said, adding that findings from research aimed at enhancing production.
Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI) chairman Dr Azman Ismail meanwhile said searching for new alternative food sources is crucial to ensure the nation’s food security.
“Introducing several new alternative plants such as sweet potatoes, yams, and other tuberous crops with high nutritional content are expected to become future food sources.
“Additionally, Mardi has taken proactive steps towards reducing reliance on imported onions and developed three new varieties named Mardi red onions BAW-1, BAW-2 and BAW-3 with the ultimate aim to cut down shallot imports by 30 per cent in 2030,” he said.
For conservation practices, he said biological control needs to be continuously implemented, taking into account the impacts on a particular ecosystem.
“Also, until now, through extensive on-going exploration and conservation efforts, Mardi, in collaboration with universities and other government agencies, discovered and published in international and local journals several new species.
“Such as a new species of arilless durian from the wild habitat in Gerik, Perak and named it as Durio gerikensis, a new species of durian from Endau-Rompin Forest Reserve, named it as Durio johoricus and also a variety of Nepenthes, named it as Nepenthes rafflesiana var. zabawiana,” he said.
The three-day event organised by Mardi and in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and the Sarawak government will run until June 13.
It focuses on critical themes and topics such as Managing Agrobiodiversity in a Changing Climate; Biological Control and Ecologocial Engineering; Utilisation of Agrobiodiversity Resources and Alternative; and Potential Crops for Food Security.
