From Saarani Vengadesen
In his speech at the Malaysian Economic Forum on Jan 9, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim unveiled Malaysias ambitious plans to position itself as a regional hub for energy and semiconductor manufacturing, leveraging on its strategic location and existing expertise.
While this focus on energy and technology is vital for the countrys long-term growth, Malaysia must also invest in its burgeoning agribiotechnology sector, which has the potential to transform its agricultural industry, boost the economy and promote sustainability.
Since the introduction of genetically modified (GM) crops in the mid-1990s, modern biotechnology has revolutionised global agriculture and it was a major breakthrough in agribiotechnology.
Since 2013, advances in gene editing have introduced a new level of precision, enabling the modification of specific genes.
The resulting crops from GM and gene editing technology are known as biotech crops. Their common goal is to achieve specific improved traits, such as disease resistance, drought tolerance or enhanced nutritional content.
A key advantage of gene editing is its faster commercialisation. Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) typically take 12 years to bring a new trait to market while gene-edited crops can be ready in as little as eight to nine years.
For Malaysia, home to a rich agricultural legacy in palm oil, rubber and tropical fruits, failing to harness the power of biotech crops would be a missed opportunity.
Biotech crops can significantly enhance crop resilience, boost yields and reduce environmental impacts. Biotech crops have the potential to elevate Malaysias status as a leader in sustainable agriculture, much like the Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand which are rapidly advancing in GM crops and gene editing.
Malaysia risks being left behind if it does not make similar investments in this growing field.
However, there are significant barriers to the growth of Malaysias agribiotechnology sector. The most pressing challenge is the lack of sufficient investment in research and development.
Another challenge is public perception. Many Malaysians remain wary of GMOs and other biotechnological innovations, often due to concerns over safety and environmental impact.
The government must address these concerns by investing in public education campaigns that explain the benefits of biotech crops.
For example, Singapores proactive approach to educating its citizens about GMOs and their benefits can serve as an effective model for Malaysia.
Finally, Malaysia needs to provide more legal certainty in regulating biotech crops to support biotech innovation while ensuring safety.
Malaysia must create a regulatory environment that is science-based, facilitating growth in biotech agriculture while safeguarding public health and the environment.
This sector offers the promise of increased agricultural productivity, the creation of high-value jobs and the opportunity for Malaysia to become a global leader in sustainable agriculture.
Saarani Vengadesen is a PhD candidate in biotechnology regulation at Universiti Malayas Faculty of Law.
The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.