Bioresource Utilization the Biotechnology Option for Malaysia
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MINISTRY OF INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT SARAWAK UNIVERSITI MALAYSIA SARAWAK BIORESOURCE UTILIZATION THE BIOTECHNOLOGY OPTION FOR MALAYSIA Edited by GHAZALLY ISMAIL ~ Pelanduk Publications bLo Lf4r )t~6 PREFACE As Malaysia ushers in the 21 st century, a fundamental transformation must take place in the manner we exploit our biological resources. Ma laysia cannot continue to grow while turning its back on the sophisticated means and technologies that are increasingly available today in harnessing bioresources optimally and competitively. A primary challenge that we face is to shift from our presently labour-intensive and raw material based exploitation of our resources to skill- or knowledge-based means of producing value-added resources. In the past two decades, the promise of biotechnology as a commercial success in bioresource exploitation has begun to be realised. This book is the result of a seminar/workshop held in Kuching, Sarawak on 11-13 November 1996 organised by the Ministry of Industrial Development Sarawak. The Seminar on "Scoping and Stra Published by tegic Planning of National Biotechnology Park in Sarawak" was con Pelanduk Publications (M) Sdn Bhd ceived as a forum for Malaysian scientists and biotechnology researchers, (Co . No. 113307-W) entrepreneurs, industrialists and investors from several developed coun 24 Jalan 20/16A 46300 PetalingJaya Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia. tries to discuss issues relating to the planned establishment of a Biotech nology Park in Sarawak. The Seminar/Workshop reviewed in a prag Address all correspondence to matic perspective what has been achieved in the field of biotechnology Pelanduk Publications (M) Sdn Bhd and related industry in recent years. Much was benefited from the knowl P.O. Box 8265, 46785 KelanaJaya edge and experiences of participants drawn from such a diverse range of Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia. expertise and background. Discussions centred on the strengths and Copyright © 1997 Universiti Malaysia Sarawak weaknesses of Malaysia, particularly Sarawak, as a potential global Cover Design © 1997 Pelanduk Publications player in the biotechnology industry. The participants addressed the following issues: All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without prior permission from the Publisher. • conceptual planning, operational models and management approaches that might be appropriate for a Biotechnology Park in Sarawak Perpustakaan Negara Malaysia Cataloguing-in-Publication Data • niche areas in the field of biotechnology that Sarawak should explore Bioresource utilization: the biotechnology option for Malaysia and develop to become globally competitive in the biotechnology in /edited by Ghazally Ismail. dustry ISBN 967-978-613-7 • resource requirement and institutional arrangements to meet the 1. Biotechnology induslrie~Malaysia-Congresses. manpower needs of a Biotechnology Park in Sarawak I. Ghazally Ismail, 1949-. II. Seminar on Scoping and Strategic • development policies, practices, incentives and factors that can influ Planning of National Biotechnology Park in Sarawak (1996: Kuching) 660.609595 ence foreign scientists and investors to participate in the successful establishment of the Park's priorities, strategies and guidelines nec Printed in Malaysia by ~~ Academe Art &1 Printing Services Sdn. Bhd. ~11 'I r; ,+C/ v (}' I' (~U~ 'l1 K h idlocc l M:.Jkj1lfnat J\kad~nul\ UNl vbRSm MA... ~cS1A SARAWAY. essary to promote the sound and viable implementation of the activi CONTENTS ties within the Park Preface v If the success of a workshop can be judged by the intensity of debate, then this one was a resounding success. The combination of different atti 1. Tapping the Potential of Agricultural and Inland Fisheries tudes and strongly held opinions on varying aspects of the above issues Resources Using Biotechnology 1 resulted in some lively discussions. One of the main achievements of the Rita Manurung and Kueh Hong Siong workshop was the bringing together of specialists from disparate back 2. Biotechnology in Rubber Research and Development 27 grounds to clarify issues relating both to the present situation in the bio H.Y. Yeang and Wan Abdul Rahman technology industry and the direction of future research and development. Many people deserve special thanks for assisting in the organisation of 3. The Role of Biotechnology in the Palm Oil Industry 31 the Seminar/Workshop and the production of this book: the Ministry of Cheah Suan Choo and laJani Sukaimi Industrial Development Sarawak for the fmancial support; members of 4. Fine Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals via Microbial the Organising Committee for their great care for detail; staff from Biotechnology 43 . UNIMAS for their hard work and indulgence as the Secretariat; and par E.l. Vandamme ticipants for their papers and providing the right environment for discus sions. The knowledge shared and ex.periences gained at this Semi 5. Biotechnology of Friuts for Quality Improvement 61 nar/Workshop will be cherished for a long time by all of us. P.F. Lam and U.K. Abdu Bakar 6. Marine Resources of Sabah and Sarawak: Opportunities for Ghazally Ismail Biotechnology Applications 67 Universiti Malaysia Sarawak Gires Usup 7. Waste and Pollutant Management in Malaysia: The Biotechnology Option 87 Munedza Mohamed and Ghazally Ismail 8. The Forest Resources of Sarawak: A Base for Bioprospecting 125 H.S. Lee 9. The Status of Natural Products Research in Malaysia 115 lkram Said, lAily Din, Nik Idris Yusoff and Zuriati Zakaria 10. Studies on Goniothalamus: A Malaysian Perspective 147 lAity Din, lkram Said, Kama1Uddin Mat-Salleh, Zuriati Zakaria, Azimathtol Hawariah L.P., Fasihuddin Ahmad, A. Latif!, Nile Idris Yusof!, Mohd Wahid Samsudin and Rahmah Mohamed 11. Ethnomedical Approach to Discovering and Developing New Drugs 157 Edward l. Rohzon, Thomas l. Carlson, Raymond Cooper and Steven R. King vi vii 12. Natural Product Screening and Molecular Probes 179 Ronald Quinn Tapping the Potential of Agricultural and Inland Fisheries Resources using Biotechnology 13.Biopharmaceuticals and Diagnostics in Malaysia 189 ............................. ....... .. .................................................. ........................... Jane Cardosa RITA MANURUNG am KUEH HONG SIONG DepartmenJ ofAgriculture, Sarawak 14. Marine 'Biotechnological and Pharmaceutical R&D in Australia 199 INTRODUCTION Russel Reichelt In Sarawak, 47% of the population is engaged in agricultural activities contributing to 13 .6% of the GDP. The agricultural sector plays an im lS .Biotechnology Training and Skill Development in Sarawak 211 portant role in the development of the State, especially the rural econ Mohd Azib Salleh omy. With the establishment of plantations, crops like oil palm, sago 16.Cooperative Research Centres: Joint Ventures for the Progression palm, pepper, and coconuts will soon provide the raw materials for agro of Biotechnological Research to Commercial Reality 227 based and downstream industries . Joan Dawes Of the total land area in Sarawak, only about 1.81 million ha are suit able and another 1.72 million ha marginally suitable for agriculture. Of 17. Commercial ising Biotechnology: Models for Success 233 ten these areas are small, isolated pockets in remote areas or narrow Janel Caffin and David Evans strips along river banks which make them unsuitable for large scale commercial agricultural production. 18. Regional Strategies for Bioindustry Development: Sarawak can be divided into 3 broad geographical zones. These are: The Massachusetts' Experience 243 the coastal zone of about 2.24 million ha or 18.3 %, the midland zone of Fernando Quezada 4.14 million ha or 33 .8% and the interior zone of 5.85 million ha or 19. COJllll1ercialisation of Research Products 2S7 47 .9 % of the total land area. John A. Butcher The coastal zone, made up of coastal organic swamps and coastal clay plain, is mainly composed of large tracts 'of undrained deep and shallow 20. The Commercialisation of Biotechnology: Pains, Problems peat, narrow strips of poorly drained saline clay soils, acid sulphate, gley and Potentials 273 and riverine alluvial soils. Both gley and alluvial riverine soils are tradi Kenneth L. Giles tionally used for paddy, coconuts, cocoa and other short-term crops. However, acid sulphate and saline soils are rated as unsuitable for agri 21.Commercialisation of Technologies and Linking University R&D culture unless reclaimed. Farmers in this zone are comparatively poor. with Industrial Commercialisation 289 The midland zone, made up of undulating and hilly to steep mountain Peter Henderson ous areas along both sides of major roads, lower riverine and inland or 22. Entrepreneurial-Driven Science and Technology Parks: The Forte ganic swamps is where most of the agricultural activities are found . This of the National Research Development Corporation of India 301 zone has the best land for perennial crops. Although most of the farming Annusha Santhirasthipam activities are centered around shifting cultivation, rubber, pepper, cocoa, wet paddy and oil palm estates are also found in this zone. Only areas 23 . Economic Analysis: The Development of a Biotechnology Industry near major trunk roads are easily accessible. in Sarawak, Malaysia 31S The interior zone makes up the main bulk of the land mass in the Christopher D. Howe, S.M. State. In this zone are the undulating and hilly, steep to very steep, viii Bioresource Utilization - Chapter 1 Tapping the Potential of Agricultural and Inland