Biotech devt agenda expanded to Sabah

Kota Marudu: The national biotechnology and bioeconomy development agenda has been expanded to Sabah under the Bioeconomy Transformation Programme (BTP). Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili launched the bioeconomy projects for Sabah, here, Thursday which saw the exchange of three collaboration documents.

He also announced two bieoconomy projects that will aid in the transformation of the agriculture sector and develop skilled farmers in Kota Marudu where agriculture is the main economic activity.

The collaboration proposal between Malaysian Biotechnology Corporation (BiotechCorp), an agency under the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), and Rural Development Corporation (KPD) is for the development of high-value natural products found in Sabah such as herbs, spices and aromatic plants including vanilla, ylang ylang and jasmine.

It will involve rural farmers who will gain from increased income through contract farming and optimised use of agriculture land.

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Under the second collaboration proposal between Borneo Scallops Sdn Bhd and Inno Fisheries Sdn Bhd, a joint-venture company will be set up for the breeding and production of scallops through an integrated aquaculture facility with an estimated investment of RM540 million.

Technology transfer to Sabah companies and fishermen involved will lead to more scallop farms in Sabah.

The third document is a collaboration between Inno Integrasi Sdn Bhd and Malaysian Palm

Oil Board (MPOB) for bio-organic fertiliser developed under the Inno-Works scheme.

This venture is part of the Inno Integrasi milestone implementation under the BTP trigger project involving agriculture waste conversion to bio fertiliser through the setting up of an integrated waste treatment plant.

Under this trigger project, two out of 50 Inno-Works integrated plants are currently operating in Sabah.

The total integrated plant is expected to generate 2,260 jobs nationwide and contribute RM197 million to gross national income (GNI) by 2020 involving an investment of RM1 billion.

At the event, Ongkili also announced two bioeconomy projects that would be carried out in Kota Marudu - the Petai Belalang pilot project by Sabah Green Development Sdn Bhd and the establishment of hybrid rice seed production by RB Biotech Sdn Bhd.

The hybrid rice product is a BTP trigger project and Kota Marudu is one of the paddy planting districts chosen for planting of paddy from the Japonica and Indica hybrid.

Overall, the RB Biotech hybrid rice project will create 496 jobs nationwide and contribute RM450 million to GNI by 2020, with an investment of RM22 million.

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"This project is hoped to contribute towards the country's paddy self-sustainability and food security, apart from increasing the annual income of farmers all over the country by up to RM1.6 billion by 2020," said Ongkili.

"As the third engine of economic growth, agriculture is an important sector and its transformation must be supported by efficient modern technology towards the development of innovation, research and commercialisation," he added.

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