Friday January 26, 2007
Najib to open FAS' biotech centre
FELDA Agricultural Services Sdn Bhd is set to push into new frontiers with its RM25mil biotechnology centre in Negri Sembilan, to be launched by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on Sunday.
The centre is dedicated to research and development in oil palm tissue culture activities as well as other agriculture related medicinal plants, herbs and fruits.
Chief executive officer S. Palaniappan said: "Research areas that we would like to further embark on include oil palm cloning, and medicinal and herbal technology. Clones are poised to be one of the major planting materials of the future."
FAS started its first oil palm clones or ramets programme in 1981 with the assistance of French group Centre For International and Development (CIRAD).
By April, the whole R&D unit will move to the 12,000 sq ft new biotechnology centre, of which half will be the working area.
"We began to fully commercialise the ramets only about four years ago after a series of R&D and multi-location testing on 6,900ha of Felda land nationwide."
Palaniappan said FAS would continue to actively collaborate with the Malaysian Palm Oil Board, foreign experts and higher learning institutions from local and abroad to improve on the efficiency and quality of its ramet production and the cost structure.
He said the centre would be looking at new tools in agriculture research like molecular markers technology for oil palm clones and metabolite technology for herbal products.
"The molecular markers can genetically pinpoint the abnormal DNAs in the palm clones. This saves time and cost compared with the conventional test trials," he added.
Within the next three to four years, the centre hopes to introduce the latest Felda Yangambis planting materials range.
FAS also planned to capitalise on medical plants and herbs, apart from the core oil palm business, said Palaniappan.
He said the centre was in search of new talents, such as biotechnologists and molecular scientists.
Currently there are 120 staff and it will be increased to 200.
- Samsung unveils iPad competitor Galaxy
- Nine M’sian firms make it to Forbes’ Best under a Billion
- Genting chairman sells shares
- Analysts see new high for Malaysia's main market index
- Genting, Sime and UMW drag index lower
- The US$2bil showdown between two of the world's biggest technology companies
- Sale of Carrefour may interest Competition Commission
- What must chairmen of companies do?
- Malaysian rubber outlook to improve
- Another oil platform explodes in Gulf of Mexico off US
- Samsung unveils iPad competitor Galaxy
- What must chairmen of companies do?
- Nine M’sian firms make it to Forbes’ Best under a Billion
- Sale of Carrefour may interest Competition Commission
- Analysts see new high for Malaysia's main market index
- Genting chairman sells shares
- Possible mortgage cap on property not a concern
- DRB-HICOM to raise volume of auto production in Pekan
- Overnight policy rate remains unchanged
- UMW to beef up O&G division
RSS