Kota Kinabalu: Jonathan's ultimate goal is to commercialise his research, which may take another three years pending more studies.
“The study on duckweed is also part of Jonathan’s PhD four-year research programme in the field of aquaculture.
“Duckweed has actually been manufactured into seasoning in Thailand,” he said, adding his farm has supplied duckweed to be used as an ingredient in chicken meatball too. A kilogramme of fresh duckweed sells for RM80 in peninsula.
On why he ventured into aquaculture, Jonathan said Champ Quality Seafood was previously a shrimp farm before the early mortality syndrome (EMS) disease wiped out almost all the shrimps.
The disease affected all the shrimp farms in the Southeast Asia region and even globally.
Jonathan said his family’s shrimp farm suffered millions of ringgit in losses and ceased operation for year.
In 2016, his mother, Susan, decided to rent out the land and Jonathan asked if he could have a try at aquaculture, to produce milkfish and the rest is history.
Meanwhile, Susan said her son is relentless in making the impossible possible.
She said her son had dreamed of competing in the long jump event in Paralympic Games and she did not think he could do it. But Jonathan did.
“He clinched a gold medal for the T11/T12 men’s (vision impairment) long jump event in the Dubai 2024 World Para Athletics Grand Prix in February this year and is on his way to join the Paralympic on Aug 14,” Susan said.
She did not expect her son could add value to duckweed and eventually commercialise the product as well.
“I have pots of duckweed everywhere in my house. I did not know what it was then, nor did I know it could be commercialised by using technology to transform duckweed into a valuable, quality product.
“I am happy for what Jonathan has achieved. I believe that he can make the impossible possible once he sets his mind to it,” she said.
Dr Rafidah Othman, a senior lecturer at the Borneo Marine Research Institute, received the Consultancy Premier Award for the research collaboration on duckweed.
Also present was UMS Vice Chancellor Professor Datuk Dr Kasim Haji Mansor.
