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RM6.8b investment made from BioNexus firms

Malaysia’s bio-based industry recorded an approved investment worth RM6.81 billion from 283 certified local biotechnology companies. Science, Technology and Innovation (Mosti) Minister Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau said the investment was a 2.2% increase from...

Budget 2018: Full speech

The Budget 2018 speech by Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, Prime Minister and Finance Minister: Prospering an Inclusive Economy, Balancing Between Worldly and Hereafter, For The Wellbeing of the Rakyat, Towards the TN50 Aspiration Mr Speaker...

USDA Announces $9.6 Million in Available Funding to Grow the Bioeconomy

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) today announced $9.6 million in available funding for projects to support the development of new biobased products and biomaterials from renewable...

PetChem approves US$442m investment for new plant in Pengerang

Petronas Chemicals Group Bhd (PetChem) has approved a final investment decision for an Isononanol plant within the Pengerang Integrated Complex in Pengerang, Johor, for a total investment cost of US$442 million.

Celgene in Asia-Pacific collab with Antengene, Tigermed as clinical support

Celgene is licensing rights to develop its TORC1/2 inhibitor CC-223 in East and Southeast Asia to Antengene, and CRO Tigermed will help the latter with clinical development.

Taiwan draws foreign biotech IPOs

A Singaporean biotechnology company working on experimental cancer drugs is listing in Taiwan, potentially opening the door for more foreign peers to go public on the island.

Bank Dunia janji tambahan AS$12 bilion atasi krisis makanan

WASHINGTON: Pertubuhan Bangsa Bangsa Bersatu (PBB) memberi amaran bahawa krisis makanan global yang meruncing mungkin berterusan selama beberapa tahun sekiranya tidak dikawal. PBB mengeluarkan amaran itu ketika Bank Dunia mengumumkan pembiayaan tambahan sebanyak AS$12 bilion...

Pharmaniaga establishing RM300 mil plant to develop halal vaccine, insulin

PHARMANIAGA Bhd is setting up a RM300 mil halal insulin and vaccine plant in Puchong, Selangor, which is expected to be fully completed by end of 2023. Group managing director Datuk Zulkarnain Md Eusope said...

Bina model perladangan terbaik jamin sekuriti makanan negara

Pandemik COVID-19, pemanasan global dan terbaru, krisis Russia-Ukraine memberi kesan terhadap jaminan keselamatan makanan dunia. Ketidakstabilan situasi global ini pasti memberi kesan terhadap negara yang masih banyak bergantung kepada sumber luar.

Asian Super GT motorsport to run on 100% biofuel

Super GT is the first championship in Asia to run on 100% biofuel. With the decision to use the fully sustainable fuel Renewablaze GTA R100 from ETS Racing Fuels, the GT Association has achieved a...

Dr M: Look East Policy can help Malaysia in post-pandemic recovery

MALAYSIA must examine the growth strategies and models of China, Japan, and South Korea to accelerate its own economic development, said former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. According to Dr Mahathir, the Look East...

Pfizer eyes Covid vaccine for all variants before 2023

GENEVA: A Covid-19 vaccine effective against multiple variants is possible before the end of 2022, the head of US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer said Wednesday. Chairman Albert Bourla said the firm was also working on producing...

Perstorp Group to be acquired by PETRONAS Chemicals Group

Perstorp Group, a leading sustainability-driven global specialty chemicals company, today said that it is to be acquired by PETRONAS Chemicals Group Berhad (PCG). PCG announced today that it has signed a Securities Purchase Agreement...

Beringin PPR community turns food waste into side income

KUALA LUMPUR (May 17): Who would have thought that food waste that we consider to be worthless can actually help generate a source of side income, especially in the face of today’s uncertain economic...

‘Lifeline’ of renewable energy can steer world out of climate crisis: UN chief

The State of the Climate 2021 indicates that extreme weather – the day-to-day face of climate change – wreaked a heavy toll of human lives, triggered shocks for food and water security, and led to...

MHRA marketing authorisation granted for Eli Lilly’s Verzenios as early breast cancer treatment

Eli Lilly’s Verzenios (abemaciclib) has received a marketing authorisation from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), in combination with endocrine therapy for the adjuvant treatment of patients with HR+, HER2-, high risk...

China to Approve More GM Maize Varieties – Agri Ministry

The Chinese agriculture ministry announced plans to allow more genetically modified maize varieties developed by local companies. According to ISAAA, China was the seventh-largest producer of biotech crops globally in 2019. It is also one of the six countries that...

Malaysia’s energy savings in 2021 totalled RM48.34 mil

KUALA LUMPUR (May 17): Malaysia saved 132.43 gigawatt hours (GWh) of electricity amounting to RM48.34 million as at Dec 31, 2021 via the Energy Management Gold Standard (EMGS), which places emphasis on efficient energy use by the...

Why are businesses still struggling with digital transformation when it has become a norm?

DIGITAL Transformation (DX) among businesses during the COVID-19 outbreak was a watershed moment, as it required businesses to relocate to online platforms in order to stay viable. Over the last two years, there has been...

Duopharma Biotech net profit rose 15pc to RM20.29mil for Q1

KUALA LUMPUR: Duopharma Biotech Bhd's net profit rose 15 per cent to RM20.29 million in the first quarter (Q1) ended March 31, 2022, from RM17.61 million a year ago. The company's revenue also increased by...

Sustainable pet food project to be developed using black soldier fly larvae as protein...

SHAH ALAM: The country's first sustainable dog food with the use of black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) as an alternative protein source will be developed soon. Pet World Nutritions Sdn Bhd, Society for the Prevention...

‘No Plastic Bag’ campaign to be implemented nationwide

ALL state governments have agreed to partake in the “No Plastic Bag” campaign where a minimum of 20 sen will be charged for the use of a plastic bag. According to a Bernama report today, the decision came...

World Bank announces up to US$30b to address food insecurity

WASHINGTON: The World Bank on May 18 announced actions it plans to take as part of a comprehensive, global response to the ongoing food security crisis, with up to US$30 billion (RM131.7 billion) financing...

Engineering team creates monitoring toolkit to speed production of biologic drugs

Two Rutgers University engineers specializing in the process of making drugs derived from living organisms have created an analytical tool they expect will accelerate the discovery and production of biologic drugs that are often...

Modern farming popular with young agropreneurs

Agriculture and farming are two of the oldest and most essential professions the world over. Humans have relied on agriculture as a primary food source for thousands of years. Today, food security is becoming a...

Algae-based batteries, biodegradable COVID-19 tests, BMW’s biobased coatings, Heinz biobottles, and more: The Digest’s...

Can you imagine running a computer chip on algae – yes, algae – for more than six months? Apparently, that’s now possible thanks to biochemists at the University of Cambridge who created the biobased...

Five signs that the ‘old normal’ has returned to Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR, May 16 — For more than two years, Malaysians have adjusted to changes in our everyday lives and adopted what the government has termed the “new normal”: social distancing, wearing of face...

3 juta telur aedes mengandungi bakteria Berwolbachia dilepaskan

JOHOR BAHRU: Lebih tiga juta telur nyamuk aedes mengandungi bakteria Berwolbachia akan dilepaskan secara berperingkat untuk membiak, sekali gus mengurangkan 40 peratus kes demam denggi di kawasan panas di Projek Perumahan Rakyat ( PPR)...

Plant-based molecules show promise for aquaculture vaccine development

A new article published in Reviews in Aquaculture and co-authored by scientists from CATRIN, the Faculty of Fisheries and Water Conservation at the University of South Bohemia in Vodňany and the Biological Centre of the CAS in České Budějovice is exploring...

A new way of producing chocolate respects the planet and people — and it’s...

PARIS, May 18 — Barley and carob. These are the ingredients used in a brand new kind of chocolate whose manufacturing process relies on fermentation to avoid using cocoa. The London-based company WNWN FoodLabs has...

China maps out measures to develop $3.28 trillion bioeconomy by 2025

From developing therapeutic vaccines to biotechnology breeding, China has mapped out measures to develop bioeconomy in the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2125) with rollout of a new development plan document.

Universiti Malaysia Kelantan to commercialise black ginger-based health products

KOTA BARU, May 8 — Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK) through the Faculty of Bioengineering and Technology (FBKT) is developing a pilot project to commercialise agroforestry farming and black ginger-based health products.

Smart aquaculture: technological intervention is vital for a sustainable future

By 2050, food production needs to increase by 60 percent to feed a world population of 9.3 billion. With climate change and its consequent impact on existing food production systems, there is tremendous pressure to...

Malaysia plans biodiesel mandate slowdown to meet global palm oil demand

Malaysia is considering slowing its implementation of its biodiesel mandate and cutting its export tax on palm oil to help meet global demand amid an edible oil shortage. Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin...

Expo 2020 Dubai perfect platform to raise awareness on Malaysia’s sustainable agricommodities

Expo 2020 Dubai was timely and opportune for Malaysia to promote its palm oil industry and highlight the importance of the agri-commodity to the global community, says Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities (MPIC)...

RM15 million in additional funds for third phase of SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance project

PUTRAJAYA: An additional funding of RM15 million under the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme has been approved for the third phase of the SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance project, said the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry.

MAFI sasar pengurangan 30 peratus import makanan ternakan

PADANG BESAR - Kementerian Pertanian dan Industri Makanan (MAFI) menyasarkan pengurangan import makanan ternakan sebanyak 30 peratus menjelang tahun 2030 menerusi Projek Pembangunan Industri Jagung Bijian untuk makanan ternakan.

Sustainability: Tackling e-waste

Devices such as mobile phones are ubiquitous these days, be it among adults or children. Walk into a family restaurant, and chances are you will see children glued to their tablets or phones as...

Implications of food price inflation

THE continuous rise in food price inflation not only affects the purchasing power and income of the increasingly squeezed M40 and perennially struggling B40, which materially and adversely impacts household and private sector spending at...

Vaksin Omicron Sinopharm lulus jalani ujian klinikal

BEIJING - Syarikat farmaseutikal China, Sinopharm memaklumkan vaksin tidak aktif varian Omicron telah mendapat kelulusan bagi menjalani ujian klinikal oleh Pentadbiran Produk Perubatan China.

No soil, no problem: Reshaping agriculture to be more carbon friendly

Farming needs a reboot. According to a 2019 IPCC report on climate change and land, agriculture is to blame for about 8.5% of all greenhouse gas emissions. The biggest sources are nitrous oxide from soils,...

Sarawak a rising tiger in renewable energy – Abang Johari

Sarawak Premier Abang Johari Openg has described the state as a rising tiger in the renewable energy arena and is opening its frontiers to help traditional industries become more sustainable.

ASEAN-US Summit a great opportunity for Malaysia to push forward its economic agenda

KUALA LUMPUR (May 11): The upcoming ASEAN-US Special Summit provides a great opportunity for Malaysia to push forward its economic agenda through the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement.

COVID vaccine makers shift focus to boosters

May 9 (Reuters) - COVID-19 vaccine makers are shifting gears and planning for a smaller, more competitive booster shot market after delivering as many doses as fast as they could over the last 18...

Subsidy payment applications for chicken breeders simplified

SEREMBAN: The Agriculture and Food Industries Ministry (MAFI) announced that it has simplified the application procedure to expedite subsidy payments to chicken breeders. Its minister, Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee said the application and review...

Mampukah plastik sifar 2030?

KUALA LUMPUR - Setiap kali sambutan perayaan, negara ini merekodkan peningkatan sisa domestik yang ketara, dan pada sambutan Aidilfitri kali ini kebimbangan pengendali sisa pepejal, aktivis dan mereka yang berkenaan memuncak.

Inflation And Its Impact On Malaysia’s Food Security

The continuous rise in food price inflation not only affects the purchasing power and income of the increasingly squeezed M40 and perennially struggling B40 which materially and adversely impacts household and private sector spending...

Revealed: The medical devices companies leading the way in Covid-19

We aggregated thousands of records from GlobalData's proprietary themes, jobs, deals and patents databases to identify the most active companies in the area of Covid-19 in the medical devices sector.

Full adoption of existing mitigation strategies can help meet livestock methane reduction targets by...

Amid the often-distressing news about climate change, some good news: Existing strategies could mitigate livestock methane emissions by enough to help the sector limit its share of global warming to the 1.5°C target by...

EIA updates bioenergy production, capacity forecasts

Renewables are currently expected to account for 22 percent of U.S. electricity generation this year and 23 percent in 2023, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s latest Short-Term Energy Outlook, released May 10....

Bioeconomy prominent on growth agenda

China's top economic regulator on Tuesday unveiled a new plan to spur the bioeconomy during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25), in a bid to promote high-quality development of the sector.

Key protein identified for brain stem cell longevity

A receptor that was first identified as necessary for insulin action, that also is located on the neural stem cells found deep in the brains of mice, is pivotal for brain stem cell longevity,...

Young Indian farmers are turning to an ancient crop to fight water stress and...

India is facing a water and food crisis, exacerbated by extreme climate cycles such as the current heatwave during which temperatures well above 40℃ have been commonplace. With 1.4 billion people to feed, and such heatwaves...

Wastewater Recycling in Textile Industries

The annual water consumption of the textile industries (including cotton farming) is nearly 93 billion m3 which is almost 4% of the global freshwater withdrawal. A large portion of this freshwater turns into industrial effluents which...

Sarawak stepping up efforts to achieve 60pc STEM students by 2030

Sarawak has doubled its efforts to achieve the target of 60 per cent of students enrolling in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) package classes by 2030 as planned under the Post-Covid-19 Development...

China bangunkan vaksin COVID-19 mRNA bagi Omicron

Syarikat farmaseutikal China yang membangunkan vaksin khusus bagi menangani COVID-19 varian Omicron menggunakan teknologi mRNA sudah mendapat kelulusan ujian klinikal di Emiriah Arab Bersatu (UAE).

Wet agriculture could protect peatlands and climate, but remains largely unexplored

Across the globe, peatlands are under threat and their destruction is contributing to climate change. Damaged peatlands are responsible for roughly five per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions.

Clinical waste piles up amid COVID-19 pandemic

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the amount of clinical waste produced in 2020 grew by 18.1 per cent to 39,900 tonnes from 33,800 tonnes in 2019, according to the State Environment Statistics 2021 report. Selangor generated...

Switching to sustainable surfactants

Personal care is going green at a breakneck pace. While most industries, including the chemical industry, are targeting net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, the consumer product brands that make soap, shampoo, lotion, and...

Seasonality gap of strawberries offers huge market potential for vertical farmers

MD-Farm offers vertical farming systems alongside a platform including their own technology such as know-how services for customers. Potential customers that will use MD-Farm’s technology are either large-sized greenhouse growers, supermarkets, or food processors....

Hearables’ Shipments to Exceed 200 Million Globally by 2024

A new study by Juniper Research has found hearables shipments will exceed 200 million units by 2024, up from 165 million in 2022; representing total growth of 30% over the next two years.

40 juta lagi berdepan krisis kelaparan tahun lalu – PBB

Penduduk dunia yang berdepan isu kelaparan meningkat kepada 193 juta tahun lalu ketika konflik, perubahan iklim dan krisis ekonomi merosakkan kehidupan manusia, kata Pertubuhan Makanan dan Pertanian (FAO) hari ini.

“Waste is sexy!”

Sian Cuffy-Young wants to change how we see waste. In her home country of Trinidad and Tobago, she educates people on how to best deal with the resources they would otherwise throw away.

Antimicrobial use: The outlook to 2030

It’s still a global reality that antibiotics of many important classes in human medicine are still given to livestock animals not only for treating diagnosed illnesses, but also to prevent disease and for growth...

Will You Need an Annual COVID-19 Vaccine? Here’s What Experts Predict

In the future, public health experts may recommend getting an annual COVID-19 vaccine the same way a flu vaccine is recommended every fall, according to a new viewpoint article published in JAMA, which is authored by three Food and Drug...

Leading scientific minds can play vital role in nation-building

It is encouraging that science is getting more attention from the nation's leaders lately. New developmental policies that emerge are mostly centred around science. The 12th Malaysia Plan has a high percentage of scientific content....

Bioluminescent bacteria, rockin’ packaging, McDonald’s biobased cups, and more: The Digest’s Top 8 Innovations...

In France, the next City of Lights might just be illuminated by bioluminescent bacteria for an eco-friendly solution. And a new packaging alternative made from calcium carbonate, a naturally occurring material found in rocks,...

Want To Save The Planet? Invest In Better Ag Policy, Not Biotech Meat

Let’s say you want to save the planet, and you have a lot of cash to throw around. Be on the lookout for snake oil salespeople claiming they have the silver bullet solution in...

A New Way To Produce Compounds for Pharmaceuticals and Natural Products

What do gunpowder, penicillin and Teflon all have in common? They were inventions that took the world by storm, but they were all created by complete accident. In a new study published in the journal Science, researchers used...

Growth and Value Investing in Asia: Harness the Collective Strength of ASEAN

ASEAN has many structural advantages that offer investment opportunities for both growth and value investors. As the post COVID recovery gains momentum in the region, active investors seeking differentiated ideas can add alpha to...

Glove manufacturers should switch focus onto non-medical industries

Glove manufacturers could switch their focus to tap the non-medical industry players as their clients to make the industry lucrative and continue to thrive rather than banking their focus on the healthcare sector per se, said Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk...

Kanada tingkatkan eksport gandum atasi kekurangan global

Kerajaan Kanada mengumumkan satu pelaburan bagi menyokong penambahan eksport gandum, ketika permintaan produk gandum Kanada meningkat di pasaran global. Menteri Pertanian dan Agro Makanan Kanada, Marie-Claude Bibeau, berkata pelaburan itu selaras kepentingan penghasilan gandum negara...

New long COVID study highlights key symptoms

Women, those who are obese and those on mechanical ventilation are all more likely to suffer from the effects long-term COVID-19. New research has revealed that only one in four UK patients hospitalised with COVID-19...

Same job, but fancy titles

From “care delivery manager” to “diversity and inclusion manager”, job titles have evolved indeed. Traditionally, the above job titles were more commonly scoped towards the operations manager and human resource manager roles respectively. These designations...

Bits + Bytes : A Miscellany of Technology

A bank card resides in the wallets of almost every Malaysian and has become part and parcel of daily life. Current bank cards are chip-based, which works in one of two ways — contact-based or...

Increase in zoonotic malaria infections a new threat in Malaysia – Khairy

KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia is facing a new serious threat in malaria infection, which is an increase in zoonotic malaria infections, says Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin. He said zoonotic malaria infections in the country had increased...

First agriculture product collection centre to open next month

KOTA KINABALU: The first agriculture production collection centre (APCC) run by the Rural Development Corporation (KPD) will open its doors next month. The collection centre has the capacity to cater for up to 50 metric...

Coal still top threat to global climate goals, says report

PARIS, April 27 — The number of coal-fired power plants in the pipeline worldwide declined in 2021, according to research released yesterday, but the fossil fuel most responsible for global warming still generated record...

Survey Reveals Malaysian Workers Believe Reliable Internet Is Critical For Economic Growth

Cisco’s latest Broadband Index reveals that Malaysian workers value access to the internet more than ever before, as hybrid working continues to be the norm in 2022. Workers believe that universal access to fast...

MMA: Relaxation of SOP a step closer to endemicity

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) said the relaxation of the standard operating procedures (SOP), including lifting mask mandates for outdoors, was another positive development in the management of the pandemic.

Goodbye to traditional farming in Singapore?

APRIL 24 — Over 70 farms in Lim Chu Kang in the north of Singapore are about to have their land leases terminated. The facilities were granted final extensions on their leases — the extensions...

Malaysians do care about protecting the environment

WE celebrated our 52nd anniversary of Earth Day last Friday on April 22. It should serve as a reminder to continue our efforts in protecting the environment, restoring damaged ecosystems and ensuring a more...

Ekonomi Malaysia beri petunjuk prospek positif

PUTRAJAYA: Petunjuk bagi tiga bulan pertama 2022 menunjukkan prospek ekonomi Malaysia yang positif dalam masa terdekat dengan mobiliti yang tinggi dijangka berlaku susulan pembukaan sempadan antarabangsa, kata Jabatan Perangkaan Malaysia (DOSM).

Scientists to trial world-first long-acting injection for high blood pressure

Researchers from Queen Mary University of London and Barts Health NHS Trust are trialling an investigational medication for high blood pressure. It marks the first time that scientists will be trialling an injection-based approach with...

CAN TECHNOLOGY SAVE URBAN FARMING?

Population growth, more food production, loss of arable land, water resources, and CO2 emission concerns are all on the forefront of food producers. Given the fact that the U.N. predicts that 86% of the developed...

Plastic-eating enzyme could eliminate billions of tons of landfill waste

An enzyme variant created by engineers and scientists at The University of Texas at Austin can break down environment-throttling plastics that typically take centuries to degrade in just a matter of hours to days.

Youth Empowerment Through Digital Platforms

Digital adoption has accelerated dramatically over the past two years, mainly due to nationwide lockdowns to curb the spread of the COVID-19 virus. For example, according to McKinsey, companies that adopted digitalisation in the business...

Smart Vaccine Manufacturing Technologies Look Set to Stay

So called “smart” vaccine manufacturing technologies, i.e., systems that gather and exchange process data, have been vital in the battle against COVID-19. The availability of higher quality data helped industry accelerate process development and...

Avocado Seed Not Merely A Fruit Waste

The consumption of avocado has been on the rise in the latest trend, especially in healthy eating diet plans. When it comes to salad and wraps, avocado is usually added as one of the...

Harnessing the power of solar energy through photosynthesis

A team of scientists are developing innovative techniques that utilise photosynthesis to harness solar energy, creating new methods of energy storage. As part of their Horizon 2020 programme, the EU have created A-LEAF and SoFiA. These...

Urban agriculture boosts food security

LETTERS: By 2050, urban areas are expected to house two-thirds of the global population of approximately 10 billion people. While cities are hubs of economic growth and technological advancement, rapid urbanisation can lead to significant health...

Study identifies causes of cancer

A team of Yale-led researchers can now quantify the factors causing changes in the DNA that contribute most to cancer growth in tumors of most major tumor types. They write in a new paper, published...

Study: Small bees better at coping with warming, bumblebees struggle

PARIS, April 24 — Climate change could lead to more small-bodied bees but fewer bumblebees, according to research published Wednesday, warning of potential “cascading” effects on plant pollination and across whole ecosystems.

Floating Fungi buoys, bioplastic LP records, space bricks, Wilson tennis rackets, Saucony sneakers and...

From sports enthusiasts going more biobased in their gear like Wilson tennis rackets and Saucony sneakers made from pineapple leather to groovy biobased LP records for music fans, it’s been a fun week with...

Mosti plans to introduce drone industry, technology in STEM syllabus

KOTA TINGGI, April 24 — The Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (Mosti) plans to introduce drone industry and technology in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education syllabus to produce more future...

Gujarat: Generic medicines sales up 50% in 2 years

AHMEDABAD: With greater awareness of alternatives to branded medicines and more willingness to try them out, sales of generic medicine in Gujarat are estimated to have grown by 50% in the past two years,...

Root system significantly affects soil water movement in banana plantation

Xishuangbanna is one of the most suitable areas for banana cultivation in China. Heavy application of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and irrigation in banana plantations has disturbed the soil environment. However, the basic characteristics of...

Six “Renewable Material of the Year 2022” Nominees

One way to overcome the chemical industry's dependence on fossil fuels is to replace oil and gas with renewable carbon within the existing structures of the chemical industry. But it applies also to innovation,...

UAE-based Hotpack’s investment pledge a boost for Malaysia

GURUN: The RM400 million investment pledge by United Arab Emirates-based Hotpack Packaging Industries LLC will boost Malaysia's position as the regional biodegradable manufacturing hub for Asean in the next 10 years.

Tissue Regeneration Technology: Its Application and Future

Tissue regeneration technology has been a widely discussed topic for the past 3 decades. Its framework provides us with concepts that enable the regrowth of parts of the body or bones without having to...

Permanent food production park a hi-tech commercial strategy to help agropreneurs

THE Permanent Food Production Park (PFPP) programme is one of the initiatives that the Ministry of Modernisation of Agriculture and Regional Development Sarawak (Manred) is seriously looking into.

#TECH: Western Digital factory in Penang named Asia’s first World Economic Forum Sustainability Lighthouse

KUALA LUMPUR: The World Economic Forum has recognised and awarded Western Digital's factory at Batu Kawan, Penang, as a Sustainability Lighthouse. By leveraging its vertically integrated smart factory model and implementing 4IR technologies such as...

Malaysia’s First Enza Zaden Vegetable Breeding R&D Centre Is Now Ready For SEA Market

Enza Zaden Asia Sdn Bhd, a Netherland based leading vegetable breeding company has finally completed its first South East Asia Research and Development (R&D) infrastructure facility in Perak, Malaysia.

Biotech Tries Manipulating the Skin Microbiome

Overnight, Chris Callewaert acquired body odor. The bioengineer, then a student, had led a largely odorless life. But several years ago, in the space of just 12 hours, he suddenly noticed that he had...

World Animal Vaccination Day celebrates better animal welfare

World Animal Vaccination Day, observed yesterday, celebrates the contribution of vaccines to the health and welfare of animals across the world. Dawn Howard, chief executive, an organisation that represents the UK animal health industry, explained that making best...

EU natural gas import dependency down to 83% in 2021

In 2021, the EU’s natural gas import dependency rate was 83%. This is 1 percentage point (pp) less than 2020 (84%). This small decrease in import dependency was significantly influenced by the fact that most EU Member States used...

Malaysia’s halal business in RCEP

THE Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement entered into force for Malaysia on March 18. It is a treaty between 15 countries: Australia, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Zealand, the...

Biotech’s top 10 money raisers of 2021

After a bustling, record-setting 2020 for private biotechs raising cash, the bar heading into 2021 was exceptionally high. Turns out, private investors elected to just take the bar and do pull-ups, breaking 2020’s record...

Adding high-flavonoid corn to broiler chickens’ diet may cut intestinal disease

The inclusion of a high-flavonoid corn, developed by a Penn State maize geneticist, in the diet of broiler chickens reduced the incidence and severity of a fatal intestinal disorder known as necrotic enteritis.

UMS produces machine to clean rivers of garbage

KOTA KINABALU (April 20): Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) has produced a prototype of river cleaning machine to resolve worrying river pollution. The innovation, known as the UMS River Cleaning Machine, can pick up garbage and...

Asian economic growth to reach 4.8 percent in 2022: expert

BOAO, Hainan, April 20 (Xinhua) -- The economic growth of Asia will reach 4.8 percent in 2022, an expert said at the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) on Wednesday. The forecast was made by Zhang...

Peroxidasin—A New Target for Preventing Lung Cancer Caused by Air Pollution?

Scientists say they have identified a mechanism that explains how fine air pollution particles might cause lung cancer, according to a study (“Air pollution particles hijack peroxidasin to disrupt immunosurveillance and promote lung cancer”)...

Mida welcomes global players to diversify into value-added agriculture activities

GLOBAL players are welcome to diversify into value-added activities in the agriculture and food processing industries in Malaysia, the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida) said. In a statement yesterday, Mida CEO Datuk Arham Abdul Rahman...

Small but mighty: Harnessing the power of algae to capture carbon

As a University of Arizona professor of astronomy and planetary sciences who studies planets orbiting other stars, Daniel Apai spends much of his time thinking about what makes worlds habitable.

Economic Missions for Strengthening Nation’s Agricommodity

Datuk Hajah Zuraida Kamaruddin, Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities Malaysia, has concluded her Economic and Agricommodities Promotion Mission to Egypt and Qatar from April 16 till 20, 2020.

Study: How cardamom could help tackle breast cancer

FLORIDA, April 14 ― According to an American study, cardamom, a plant of Indian origin, could fight against triple negative breast cancer cells. This discovery could enable scientists to look for new ways to...

Agriculture Ministry to improve agrofood policy to ensure food sustainability

PAITAN, April 17 — The Agriculture and Food Industries Ministry (Mafi) will improve the existing agrofood policy to ensure a sustainable supply of food for the country, Minister Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee said.

#TECH: Dell releases fully recyclable laptops made with recycled, renewable materials

KUALA LUMPUR: Ahead of Earth Day, Dell Technologies announced the launch of its new products and sustainable materials to help address the growing issues of waste and resource constraints. Build on Dell's recent reveal of...

Laluan endemik berliku, agihan vaksin dunia belum menyeluruh

Ada negara membuat 'naratif palsu' mengenai pandemik sudah berakhir kerana kadar vaksinasi tinggi dan tahap kematian akibat COVID-19 rendah, tetapi realiti menunjukkan sebaliknya. Pertubuhan Kesihatan Sedunia (WHO) menegaskan COVID-19 masih jauh untuk beralih kepada endemik...

Pfizer eyes Covid vaccine for all variants before 2023

GENEVA: A Covid-19 vaccine effective against multiple variants is possible before the end of 2022, the head of US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer said Wednesday. Chairman Albert Bourla said the firm was also working on producing...

Frozen food giants look to develop farmed shellfish products

A new project led by the University of Cambridge aims to help make mussels into a seafood staple for UK consumers. The university is working alongside food manufacturers and has a vision to support the development...

Expert panel: Global good waste and loss hurt our health and the environment

Between 20-30% of all food produced worldwide is lost at various stages of the supply chain before it is ever consumed, said Dr. Patrick Webb, a professor at the Friedman School of Nutrition at...

Healthcare Innovation

HLIB: Malaysia needs to balance between energy security, energy accessibility and environmental sustainability

KUALA LUMPUR (April 14): Hong Leong Investment Bank (HLIB) Research said Malaysia, which is facing an energy trilemma of energy security, energy accessibility and environmental sustainability, needs to strike the right balance to avoid...

WHO welcomes initiative to combat noncommunicable diseases, responsible for 7 in 10 deaths worldwide

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday, welcomed the setting up of a new Heads of State and Government Group to get the world back on track to reduce premature deaths from noncommunicable diseases like diabetes, cancer,...

Explore alternatives to grain corn

KUALA LUMPUR: THE rising prices of chicken, driven by the increase in cost of chicken feed, warrants creative solutions to the problems and relying heavily on feed ingredient imports is no longer a viable...

Green energy solutions to reshape city landscapes

Several cities in Europe are embracing green energy solutions to make life for residents more pleasant and sustainable – these innovative approaches serve as a model for urban environments elsewhere.

5G rollout will transform country’s digital economy — Annuar

PUTRAJAYA (April 14): The rollout of the fifth-generation (5G) network will transform the digital-based economy in the country, said Communications and Multimedia Minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa. In this regard, he said institutions such as...

Cannabis firm launches UK clinic following prescription license allocation

European medical cannabis company Cantourage has received two British government licenses that authorise the company to import medical cannabis to the UK. Additionally, the company has received the required regulatory registration to prescribe medical cannabis...

Developing organic nitrogen fertiliser to enhance agriculture production

Currently, the global agricultural industry is facing challenges with deteriorating soil health. In order to combat this, Australian scientists are exploring the manufacture of a sustainable organic nitrogen fertiliser composed of aquatic cyanobacterial biomass,...

World’s first ‘Smart Circular Bridge’ in a city

In October 2016, students from the Dutch universities TU/e (Eindhoven), TU Delft, Avans (Breda, 's-Hertogenbosch, and Tilburg), and the Eindhoven’s vocational colleges built a footbridge on the TU/e campus. The unique thing about this...

Food industry, pharmaceuticals among Uzbekistan, Malaysia ongoing projects

KUALA LUMPUR, April 8 (Bernama) -- Currently there are some ongoing projects between Uzbekistan and its Malaysian partners in the field of agriculture, food industry, pharmaceuticals and Information and Communications Technology (ICT), said Uzbekistan's Ambassador to...

NSC meeting Friday discussed National Nanotechnology and Products Roadmap 2021-2025 – PM

KUALA LUMPUR, April 9 (Bernama) -The National Science Council (NSC) which met yesterday discussed the National Nanotechnology and Products Roadmap 2021-2025 which should be applied to various industries, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail...

Herbs Found In Malaysia Show Huge Potential For Commercialisation – Experts

KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia’s rainforests are endowed with a multitude of herbs that are believed to have medicinal and nutritional values. Popular herbs such as rosary pea, gotu kola (better known as pegaga), mint or pudina...

Biodiesel blend still relevant for domestic use

THE implementation of biodiesel for the domestic sector is still worth it, according to FGV Holdings Bhd as the group could channel Malaysia’s crude palm oil (CPO) as the main feedstock to produce biodiesel...

Survey: Employers in M’sia confident about hiring skilled talent in 2022 despite ongoing restructuring

ACCORDING to recent findings of the 2022 Hays Asia Salary guide, 62% of employers in Malaysia said that they were confident about hiring the skilled talent their organisations need in 2022.

Pfizer sasar hasil vaksin COVID-19 untuk semua varian sebelum 2023

GENEVA: Gergasi farmaseutikal Amerika Syarikat (AS), Pfizer memaklumkan vaksin COVID-19 yang berkesan terhadap pelbagai varian boleh dihasilkan sebelum penghujung 2022. Pengerusinya, Albert Bourla berkata, firma itu juga sedang berusaha menghasilkan vaksin yang boleh memberikan perlindungan...

Singapore Institute of Technology, Agrocorp International collaborate for plant-based food innovation

The Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) and Agrocorp International have launched a research programme to further studies on plant-based food alternatives. This programme will leverage science and technology to also improve ingredient extraction from plant feedstocks. The...

EIA updates bioenergy production, capacity forecasts

Renewables are expected to account for 22 percent of U.S. electricity production this year, increasing to 23 percent next year, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s latest Short-Term Energy Outlook, released April 12....

Malaysia Named as Top Market for Expansion for ASEAN- Focused Middle East Companies

Middle East companies focusing on ASEAN are positive about business growth in the region – and a significant 78 per cent view Malaysia as their top ASEAN market for expansion. This is according to a...

New antibiotics still a decade away unless policymakers, investors step up, AMR Action Fund...

A "broken" investment model means a new antibiotic may not reach the market for another decade, according to the head of a $1 billion Big Pharma-backed fund focused on the growing threat of drug-resistant...

Commercial cultivation of guarana not allowed in Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR (April 12): Commercial farming of guarana (Paullinia cupana) in Malaysia is not allowed by the Agriculture Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industries (MAFI). In a statement Tuesday (April 12), the department...

Collagen products boost beauty-from-within category

Because beauty is overwhelmingly addressed from the outside in, brands with 2021 nutricosmetic launches—such as those meeting consumer desire for nutricosmetic powders—boost the growing awareness of nutricosmetic trends and bring welcomed attention to the...

Getting ready for 2023: Trends for brands to consider

It's not halfway through the year and it is already time to think about 2023. With a six-month (or more) lead time, this is when many companies are considering what to do for next...

Oncology Biosimilars Enter an Era of Expansion

Biological products are the fastest-growing class of pharmaceuticals in the United States. Biosimilar and interchangeable products may offer additional treatment options and potentially lower health care costs for patients requiring biological therapies. Since the...

The World is Running out of Farmers. What’s the Answer?

Contrary to popular belief, the world is not running out of land for farming and we are not running out of food, says a Canadian expert in a field known as deeptech — instead,...

The Dogged Victims of Inexorable Disputation: Bioeconomy and the Scoring of Carbon

Last week, players teed off in The Masters tournament in Augusta, Georgia, and Scottie Scheffler emerged as champion because in golf, lowest score wins. You’d think it would be the same in the world...

79 pct of BeST 2.0 apprentices secure permanent jobs

KUANTAN: Fifty out of 63 graduates or 79 per cent who participated in the Bio-Agrotech and Bio-Pharmaceutical Career and Entrepreneurship (BeST 2.0) apprenticeship programme run by the Malaysian Bioeconomy Development Corporation (Bioeconomy Corporation) managed...

How Biotech Can Prepare for the Next Health Crisis

It’s fair to say that the entire world has become more fluent in the language of biology in the last few years. In 2019, to most people, a pandemic was merely a science fiction...

MAFI targets 80,000 hectares under grain corn cultivation by 2033

JASIN: The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industries (MAFI) is targeting about 80,000 hectares nationwide to be cultivated with grain corn by 2033 to meet the growing domestic demand, thus reducing import dependence.

Removing carbon from air vital to reach climate goals, IPCC says

OSLO, April 4 — Extracting carbon dioxide from the atmosphere by planting forests and developing controversial high-tech industries will be essential to meet global goals to curb climate change, a UN report said today.

Pekerja Malaysia utamakan keseimbangan kerja, kehidupan

KUALA LUMPUR: Kira-kira 88 peratus pekerja di Malaysia menyifatkan pandemik menjadi pendorong untuk meningkatkan keseimbangan antara tuntutan kerja dan kehidupan, demikian mengikut hasil kaji selidik terkini Randstad.

Omicron lasts three days less than Delta for boosted: study

People who are vaccinated and have had a booster shot against COVID-19 recover from symptoms from the Omicron variant more than three days earlier than those with the Delta variant, a study said Friday.

Crop scientists must seize upon every new technology to future-proof food systems

Farming may be among the oldest professions in the world; but if it is to have any future, it will increasingly need to rely on new technological breakthroughs to cope with the existential threat...

New AI technique could lead to innovations in biomaterials

Innovation often leads to new products, but new methods can be just as groundbreaking. It was the chance to help develop those methods that drew chemical engineering doctoral student Soumil Joshi from his native...

MGRC dapat kontrak pengawasan virus COVID-19

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian Genomics Resource Centre Bhd (MGRC) mendapat kontrak pengawasan COVID-19 daripada Institut Penyelidikan Perubatan (IMR), unit penyelidikan bioperubatan Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia (KKM).

Prudential, AstraZeneca, Pantai Premier Pathology to provide cancer patients acccess to genomic tests

PETALING JAYA, April 4 (Bernama) -- Prudential Malaysia, AstraZeneca and Pantai Premier Pathology are collaborating to provide cancer patients access to genomic testing for a more accurate diagnosis of their cancer based on its...

Banana Peel Cuisine Is The Latest Plant Based Trend

Bananas are the second most common tropical fruit consumed globally, with approximately 119.83 million tons produced worldwide, comprising 16% of world fruit production. But with a lot of consumption comes a lot of waste....

Biobased Mattel toys, lion burgers & tiger tacos, biobased textiles at the Academy Awards,...

The bioeconomy is up and roaring with lion burgers and tiger tacos, but don’t worry, no animals are actually killed for the exotic meat. It’s Primeval Foods lab-grown, cultivated exotic meats that people would...

Sarawak, Federal govt’s to set up special committee to strengthen food security

KUCHING, April 1 (Bernama) -- A special committee will be set up involving the Federal and Sarawak governments to cooperate on further strengthening the country's food security. Agriculture and Food Industries Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee said...

Vaccine and Drug Development Could Be Faster, Cheaper With DNA Nanotechnology

High-throughput (HTP) combinatorial methodologies—which include microarrays, lab-on-a-chip systems, microfluidics, parallel pipetting, or robotic-assisted methodologies—are essential to accelerate synthetic biochemical technologies and discovery platforms. They can greatly minimize human input, and offer automated parallelized screening...

Tech boost for Malaysia’s agarwood industry

IN LINE WITH the growing digitalisation trend driving Agriculture 4.0, Malaysia’s leading Agarwood plantation company, DAdvance Agarwood Solutions Sdn Bhd (DAAS) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) recently with Huawei Technologies (Malaysia) to implement...

Novel technique converts plastic waste into clean hydrogen fuel

Unlike polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic bottles which are recycled without difficulty, plastic waste comprising litter such as contaminated food packaging, styrofoam and plastic bags, poses recycling challenges. Unfortunately, this means that this waste is...

World Bank estimates Malaysia’s economy to grow 5.5% in 2022

KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia’s economy is expected grow 5.5 per cent this year, driven by recovery in domestic demand and expansion in exports, according to a World Bank report. It said the external sector will continue...

10 ways COVID-19 rocked biotech—plus an honorable mention for omicron

COVID-19 is shifting to an endemic disease, and life is getting back to whatever this new normal will be. But for biotech, the pandemic made for Earth-shattering disruptions that will have a long-lasting impact...

Seaweed aquaculture – panacea or hype?

Barely a day goes by without one media outlet or another waxing lyrical over the numerous benefits of seaweeds, and how they are going to save the planet. Some of it may be hype,...

UN: Food, farming and forestry must be transformed to mitigate climate change

Protecting forests, changing diets, and altering farming methods could contribute around a quarter of the greenhouse gas cuts needed to avert the worst impacts of climate change, according to the United Nations' climate panel. But...

Catalysing Digital Transformation through Public-Private Partnerships: From a Civil Servant’s Perspective

“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” – Mahatma Gandhi. This quote best explains how noble the civil service is, to sacrifice our life for the benefit...

WHO Recommends Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Booster Shot

The World Health Organization (WHO) has updated its Emergency Use Listing (EUL), which now includes a recommendation for the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine booster in adults 18 years and older. The updated EUL allows...

Strategic alliance to target European aquaculture feed

ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, US — Benson Hill, a US-based food tech company, and Denofa, a Scandanavia-based protein producer, on April 4 announced a plan to form a strategic alliance to introduce sustainable soy protein ingredients...

New project aims to turn diapers into biochar

Tonnes of non-degradable waste is screened – filtered out – at wastewater treatment facilities each year and brought to landfills. Edinburgh-based start-up Carbogenics is looking for a more sustainable way to deal with those...

Will big biodiversity ambitions be enough to save nature?

TOKYO, March 29 — After the world missed almost all of its targets to protect fast-dwindling nature for the last decade, observers following a new round of negotiations are focusing as much on how...

Malaysian scientists create ARiCa for Asian women to determine likelihood of inheriting faulty BRCA...

PETALING JAYA, March 29 — For the longest time, Asian women were unable to get an accurate picture of their breast cancer diagnosis and suitable treatment plans to prevent cancer. This was because the majority...

Nafas sets five focus areas to remain relevant

KUALA LUMPUR: The National Farmers Organisation (Nafas), which celebrated its 50th anniversary on Wednesday (March 30), has set five key focus areas to ensure it remains relevant as it moves towards 2030.

Transforming textiles

Patrik Lundström is pleased with his new pair of Levi’s 501s. “The touch and feel is exactly the same as your cotton jeans,” he says. Lundström is CEO of Renewcell, a Swedish start-up that...

Duopharma Biotech’s ESG roadmap targets carbon neutrality by 2030, net zero carbon emissions by...

KUALA LUMPUR: Duopharma Biotech Bhd has announced its environmental pledges in conjunction with its latest environmental, social and governance (ESG) roadmap. The company said for the environment pillar within the ESG strategy, it had targeted climate...

Malaysia, China perkukuh kerjasama perubatan tradisional Cina

PUTRAJAYA - Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia (KKM) memperkukuhkan kerjasama dengan China bagi membangunkan perubatan tradisional Cina. Menteri Kesihatan Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar berkata, usaha itu selari dengan visi untuk mengintegrasikannya bidang perubatan moden sebagai suatu usaha...

Agriculture land developers urged to join Smart SSB programme

KUALA SELANGOR: Agriculture land developers, including corn growers, have been urged to join the Large-Scale Smart Padi Field (Smart SBB) programme. Agriculture and Food Industries Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee said collaboration with the...

Pet Food Brands Take a Bite Out of Plastic Waste

There’s power in numbers, which is why 20 pet food brands from the US, Canada, and New Zealand have now joined in a partnership with rePurpose Global, claimed as the world’s leading Plastic Action...

Why ‘bio’ and ‘green’ don’t mean what you think

Green. Bio. Natural. Clean. Organic. Eco-friendly. Sustainable. These are words we are confronted with constantly: on billboards, online and on TV. They are pervasive in advertising and appear on the products we see on supermarket shelves. But...

$AI shows potential to aid clinicians in fracture diagnosis$

AI shows potential to aid clinicians in fracture diagnosis

Artificial intelligence (AI) is an effective tool for fracture detection that has potential to aid clinicians in busy emergency departments, according to a study in Radiology. Missed or delayed diagnosis of fractures on X-ray is a...

Black soldier fly larvae capable of being alternative food source for livestock

MUAR (March 28): The Black Soldier Fly (BSF) larvae is expected to be an alternative food source for livestock, and a breeding project focused on the larvae is capable of being a game changer...

Sarawak to develop blueprint on sustainable development — Abang Johari

KUCHING, March 29 (Bernama) -- A Sustainable Sarawak Blueprint will be developed to guide all government agencies, businesses and communities in achieving the state’s desired environmental sustainability goals, Premier of Sarawak Tan Sri Abang...

Transition into the endemic phase safely

THE highly anticipated “endemic” phase does not mean that the country will be free of Covid-19 risk, although the easing of restrictions offers a glimmer of hope for many, says Aisling group founder and...

Genome data gaps could stymie search for next COVID variant

Many countries sequencing SARS-CoV-2 genomes are sharing only a fraction of them on public repositories — and many sequences are missing important information, according to a global analysis of genomic surveillance. But the study...

INTERESTED IN GROWING MUSHROOMS? HERE ARE 5 YOUTUBE CHANNELS TO CHECK OUT!

Entrepreneurs, researchers, and amateur mycologists have long been intrigued by the challenge of harnessing mycelium to cultivate mushrooms. There are a variety of different methods to grow mushrooms, including stumps, logs, buckets, trays, bottles,...

Creative, innovative use of technology will help palm oil industry stay competitive — CPOPC

KUALA LUMPUR (March 30): Creative and innovative ways in utilising technology are crucial to maintain the palm oil industry’s competitive advantage, said Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOPC) executive director Tan Sri Dr Yusof Basiron.

How Universities Can Support Equitable Economic Development

Across the country we are witnessing a resurgence in student activism. On campuses far and wide, one can hear calls for racial justice, worker rights, divestment, environmental action and gender equity ringing out.

Scientists find microplastics in blood for first time

AMSTERDAM, March 26 ― Scientists have discovered microplastics in human blood for the first time, warning that the ubiquitous particles could also be making their way into organs. The tiny pieces of mostly invisible plastic...

Felda’s smart solutions to advance farm management

KUALA LUMPUR: The Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) has launched Smart Plantation Management Solutions (SPMS) to strengthen the farm management of its settlers with the assimilation of technology and the concept of smart plantation.

How forests could help keep the Earth’s temperature cooler

NEW YORK, March 29 — New research suggests that the world’s forests play an even more important and complex role than previously thought. In addition to being powerful carbon sinks, they may have a...

Bank Negara: Malaysian economy to grow 5.3-6.3% this year

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian economy is projected to expand between 5.3% and 6.3% this year, driven by continued external demand and improved domestic economic activity, according to Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) governor Tan Sri...

Pharmaniaga partners UAE’s Prime Healthcare to boost halal pharma products

PHARMANIAGA Bhd has expanded its presence in the international market by partnering with Prime Healthcare Group, one of the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) leading healthcare service providers.

NCIA to facilitate development of state-of-the-art integrated dairy farm project in Chuping

KUALA LUMPUR (March 29): The Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA) shall facilitate the development of a talent ecosystem to cater for the development of a large-scale, state-of-the-art integrated dairy farm project in the Chuping Agro Valley of the...

Introducing Industrial Biotechnology in the Chemical Sector

The application of life sciences to chemical synthesis is referred to as biotechnology. Over the last few decades, there has been a critical convergence of forces that help more biorenewables reach the market. People...

50 Hottest Projects in the Advanced Bioeconomy 2022

On Day 2 of ABLC in Washington, DC, The Digest announced the 50 Hottest Projects in the Advanced Bioeconomy 2022. This year, the focus was on advanced bioeconomy manufacturing sites, completed or in development, at...

Spirulina-based platform for ultra-large-scale production of therapeutic proteins

A common food source has been converted into a biomanufacturing platform that offers a way to rapidly produce mass quantities of biologic drugs for common diseases that currently lack effective treatments. Researchers at Lumen...

REDtone to host virtual smart farming conference for industry players

REDTONE Digital Bhd in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industries (MAFI), Department of Agriculture (DoA) and Malaysian Digital Economy (MDEC) will be hosting its first one-day smart farming virtual conference.

How a biofuel crop can mitigate climate change

Newly published Michigan State University research details how switchgrass, a biofuel crop, can mitigate effects of climate change when grown on marginal land—agricultural land of little value. For farmers, it may also provide economic...

The importance of underutilized crops for future food and nutrition security

Staple crops are limited in their tolerance of a changing climate, forcing researchers and breeders to start to investigate new ways to ensure future food security. A review in New Phytologist examines the value of studying...

Artificial sweeteners may not be safe sugar alternatives: study

Artificial sweeteners reduce added sugar content and corresponding calories while maintaining sweetness. A study publishing March 24th in PLOS Medicine by Charlotte Debras and Mathilde Touvier at the French National Institute for Health and Medical Research...

Sustainable leather, yarn and paper—from bread-eating fungi

Your next trendy handbag could be fashioned from "leather" made from a fungus. Today, researchers will describe how they have harnessed this organism to convert food waste into sustainable faux leather, as well as...

The Agricultural Commodity Industry Offers Great Opportunities; Zuraida

Local agri-commodity industry participants need to take advantage of the global market of about US $ 756 billion (RM3.19 trillion), to position Malaysia as the world’s leading exporter. Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities, Datuk...

OECD forecasts Malaysia economy to grow 6% in 2022

KUALA LUMPUR (March 22): The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) forecasts Malaysia to register a gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 6% for 2022 and 5.5% for 2023.

MOH approves CanSino as booster dose

KUALA LUMPUR: The Ministry of Health (MOH) has approved CanSino's single-dose Convidecia Covid-19 vaccine to be used as a heterologous booster. The MOH, in a statement on its website yesterday, said application for the CanSino-type...

Soon we’ll all be tucking into algae, as the EU gives the industry a...

LONDON, March 20 — Ever heard of wakame, nori or spirulina? These are all types of algae. Currently still quite niche, these marine foods are expected to take a larger place on our plates...

Over 150,000 tons of total reduction in carbon dioxide equivalent recorded in 2021, says...

KUALA LUMPUR (March 22): Local authorities in the country have recorded a total reduction in greenhouse (GHG) emissions in 2021, totalling 157,923.23 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent for low carbon zones.

Malaysia’s Trade In February Rose 17.5% To RM184.75 Billion

Malaysia trade for February rose by 17.5% to RM184.75 billion compared to February 2021, the 13th consecutive month of double-digit growth. Exports surpassed RM100 billion marks for the first time for the month of February,...

Chemical found in leafy greens shown to slow growth of COVID-19 and common cold...

Researchers at Johns Hopkins Children's Center report evidence from lab experiments that a chemical derived from a compound found abundantly in broccoli and other cruciferous plants may offer a potentially new and potent weapon...

SMART SSB berjaya catat manfaat lebih baik – Ronald

KUALA LUMPUR: Pelaksanaan konsep SMART Sawah Berskala Besar (SMART SBB) mencatatkan manfaat lebih baik, dengan pengurusan lebih efisien yang bermatlamat mempertingkat produktiviti dan pengeluaran padi serta beras negara.

FRIM optimistic of expanding forestry expertise globally

KUALA LUMPUR – In line with its establishment over 90 years ago, the Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) remains optimistic about providing the best input through research and development (R&D) in the sustainable management...

Post-pandemic Asean: Reframing development priorities in Asean

As was perhaps inevitable, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations is facing the spread of the Omicron variant of coronavirus, with cases rapidly rising over the past few weeks — Malaysia, for example, is...

Expert: We Are Now in a Time When There Is ‘Widespread Adoption of Biosimilars’...

Pharmacy Times interviewed Shannon Hough, director of ClinReview in Clinical Content for McKesson, on the growing shift to biosimilars in oncology, which is impacting patients and practices by reducing the financial burden of oncology treatments and increasing...

Why comparative, not competitive, advantage is key to Indonesia’s seaweed success

According to FAO (2020), Indonesia produced 9.3 million tonnes of seaweed in 2018 (29 percent of the global total) – capitalising on the country's 99,000 km coastline. This makes it second only to China,...

Framework on Malaysia’s carbon deal in the offing

THE Environment and Water Ministry (KASA) plans to prepare a framework for a carbon deal and is in discussion with Bursa Malaysia to establish a single entity in all carbon transactions in Malaysia. Minister Datuk...

Malaysia records the most active jobseekers, driven by search for higher pay

MALAYSIA continued to register the highest number of active jobseekers in Asia, according to the 2022 Hays Asia Salary Guide. Now in its 15th edition, the Guide compiled and presented salary and sector overviews based...

Knowing When to Apply Industry 4.0

Industry 4.0 technologies are tools CDMOs can use to meet customer needs, not an end in and of themselves. For some projects, traditional systems will be the better option and understanding this is vital....

IN FOCUS: As aquaculture booms, what role can small fish farms play in helping...

SINGAPORE: In the waters off the north-western coast of Pulau Ubin, Timothy Ng's fish farm gently bobs up and down as each wave passes. Away from the hustle and bustle of the mainland, everything is...

“We haven’t really pushed the boundaries in treating mixed residual waste”

Dr Stephen Wise, Chief Strategic Development Officer for biotechnology business Advetec, talks about the need to improve recycling rates as well as hold producers accountable and how green technology is also essential for the...

GK Aqua Aims To Empower B40 Community Through MUGA Initiative

Malaysian Biotechnology company, GK Aqua Sdn Bhd (GK Aqua) has launched the Malaysian Udang Galah Aquaprenuers (MUGA), an initiative to drive employment opportunities amongst the B40 community while increasing Malaysia’s standing as an export...

Malaria Drug Could Combat Head and Neck Cancer Chemotherapy Resistance

The results of a study by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center suggest that the antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) might also boost the effectiveness of chemotherapy against...

Use pesticide-free agricultural technology to produce safe to eat products, says Ronald

KUALA LUMPUR (March 16): Entrepreneurs involved in vegetable production have been urged to use pesticide-free modern agricultural technology to produce products that are safe to eat. Agriculture and Food Industries Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ronald...

Plastiphobia

Having considered the evidence, I am convinced that plastic is one of the best materials ever invented for protecting our food and other products from damage and contamination, and that Plastiphobia is driven more...

We have achieved peak biotech formation. It’s time for ‘musical chairs’

We’ve reached peak biotech formation just as interest in the life sciences industry has created a talent war among executives—and it’s time for musical chairs. For patients, there’s never been a better time for medical innovation. Investors...

“Dual network model could be favoured to expedite Malaysia’s 5G roll-out”

THERE is high likelihood that the dual wholesale network (DWN) model will be favoured over the single wholesale network (SWN) championed by state-owned entity Digital Nasional Bhd (DNB) in the deployment of Malaysia’s 5G...

Top 10 pharma R&D budgets in 2021

Roche will not be beaten when it comes to pharma R&D. The company has topped our list of top pharma R&D budgets year after year, and 2021 was no different. The Swiss pharma landed in...

Mafi reviewing policies to further boost local production to improve self-sufficiency level

KUALA LUMPUR: Driven by the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, Malaysia is now reviewing its existing policies to further boost agricultural produce to improve its self-sufficiency.

Mercedes-Benz starts own battery recycling plant in 2023

Mercedes-Benz AG has firmly established the principle of sustainability as an integral part of its corporate strategy. In addition to CO2-neutral production and the switch to an all-electric vehicle portfolio, a closed loop of recyclable...

Governor: Biodiversity Loss Has Implications on The Economy and Financial Stability

Bank Negara Governor Tan Sri Nor Shamsiah Mohd Yunus in her speech at the launch of the joint report with the World Bank, Exploring Nature-related Financial Risks in Malaysia said that the local financial...

Study shows mRNA vaccine technology can be used for HIV vaccines

Using mRNA technology like that in the COVID-19 vaccines, researchers have demonstrated a successful way to deliver a potential HIV vaccine, researchers at Duke Human Vaccine Institute report.

Bernas expands Smart SBB to 12 locations nationwide

KUALA LUMPUR – Padiberas Nasional Berhad (Bernas) has expanded the Large-Scale SMART Paddy Field (SMART SBB) programme to 12 paddy cultivation locations nationwide compared to four locations at the beginning of last year, with...

Averda to collect used cooking oil in the UAE for biodiesel production

Dubai-headquartered international waste management company Averda announced on Wednesday that it is launching a Used Cooking Oil (UCO) service in the UAE to improve local waste management and reduce carbon emissions from road transport.

Malaysia to reactivate business with Egypt

MALAYSIA will reactivate a business council with Egypt to strengthen the economic collaboration between the two countries. Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah (picture; right) said both Malaysia and Egypt offer a lot of potential and attractive...

Pfizer-BioNTech seek US approval of second Covid booster for 65+

WASHINGTON: Pfizer and BioNTech announced Tuesday they had formally asked the United States drug regulator for emergency approval of a second booster shot of their Covid vaccine for people aged 65 and older. The companies...

Nuklear Malaysia working to enhance resilience of padi seeds

PUTRAJAYA, March 11 -- The Malaysian Nuclear Agency (Nuklear Malaysia) is working to enhance the resilience of padi seeds to withstand the unpredictable weather in the country. In a statement today, Nuklear Malaysia said its research team had started research to produce a...

Healthy economy should lead to strong recycling

Pandemic tailwinds, including the resurgence of per capita income and healthy business activity, are expected to provide a favorable outlook for the waste and recycling industries in 2022, says Capstone Partners, a middle-market investment...

‘Universities have bigger role to play in promoting shared sustainability-related goals’

KOTA KINABALU: Institutions of higher learning should play a bigger role to leverage their resources for a sustainable future, said Prof Datuk Dr Taufiq Yap Yun Hin. The Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) vice-chancellor said they...

The paradox of how antidepressants are tested

One afternoon in April 2018 I answered my rarely-used home telephone to a barrage of questions. On a crackly landline, a researcher from the University of Exeter, UK, ran through a standard interview to...

4 Ways Allowing Biotech Into The Natural Products Expo Is Harmful

This week the massive Natural Products Expo resumes after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic. The show is a must-attend for any emerging brand in natural and organic foods because it’s where retail...

Bacterial enzyme makes new type of biodegradable polymer

Strings of sugars called polysaccharides are the most abundant biopolymers on Earth. Because of their versatile and environmentally friendly properties, these molecules could eventually replace some plastics. Now, researchers reporting in ACS Central Science have identified...

Metaverse – Everyone Wants To Be There

The term Metaverse is pretty hot right now. More and more brands are striving to conquer the Metaverse using various integration formats. For example, Gucci is creating its own world in the Sandbox metaverse. The luxury...

EPA OKs plan to release 2.4 million more genetically modified mosquitoes

A British biotech firm this week got the green light from U.S. regulators to release over 2 million genetically modified mosquitoes in Florida and California as part of an expanded effort to combat transmission of diseases like...

What are the environmental impacts of using insect ingredients in aquaculture?

A recent systematic review published in Reviews in Aquaculture has evaluated the environmental consequences of insect farming and insect-based diets in aquaculture. The results suggest that the sustainability picture of insect meals and oils isn’t as straightforward...

Starbucks unveils new plans to eliminate single-use cups, encourage reusable mugs

When Starbucks reopened its Seattle headquarters last week, its returning workforce found that the coffee chain’s disposable paper and plastic cups had been replaced by reusable options. It’s a change that the company is trying to bring...

Helping Agriculture to Reach its Circular Bioeconomy Goals

A circular economy focuses on minimizing the negative impact of waste materials on the environment, society, and economy. It aims to reduce the generation of waste materials as well as develop proper guidance for...

Malaysia in midst of developing methods to administer vaccine orally, using nasal spray

KUALA LUMPUR (March 7): Malaysia through the National Vaccine Development Roadmap (PPVN) is developing methods to administer the Covid-19 vaccine orally or using nasal spray, said Deputy Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Ahmad Amzad Hashim.

Mafi will continue giving due attention to livestock industry players’ needs

JOHOR BAHRU: The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industries (MAFI) will continue giving due attention to the needs and issues faced by livestock industry players to ensure optimal production as well as enhance the...

Can Malaysia achieve 40 per cent recycling rate by 2025?

KUALA LUMPUR: Every year, Malaysia loses an estimated RM476 million in recyclable resources in an industry that is considered as high value simply because recycling practices have yet to become a norm in this...

MAFI will continue giving due attention to livestock industry players’ needs

JOHOR BAHRU (March 7): The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industries (MAFI) will continue giving due attention to the needs and issues faced by livestock industry players to ensure optimal production as well as...

Scientists use ants to sniff out cancer

PARIS, March 9 — You might have already heard about dogs sniffing out cancer. Now, it seems that some ants might also be able to differentiate cancerous cells from healthy cells in humans, thanks...

PM wants MOSTI to focus on flood-resistant padi seeds for better yield

MERSING, March 9 -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob has asked the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry (MOSTI) to focus on producing two varieties of padi seeds which can give high yields with...

Forest soils around the world absorb even more CO2 than trees

PARIS, March 7 — A vast study carried out by researchers in more than 400 forests around the world provides clues for restoring or preserving these ecosystems, which are essential in the fight against...

Malaysia’s Economy Continues to Soar to Greater Heights

KUALA LUMPUR, March 9 (Bernama) -- Malaysia gained new economic growth with RM306.5 billion worth of approved investments in the manufacturing, services and primary sectors in 2021. The country remained an attractive investment destination for...

COVID-19 can cause brain to shrink and memory losses, study reveals

COVID-19 can cause the brain to shrink, reduce grey matter in the regions that control emotion and memory, and damage areas that control the sense of smell, an Oxford University study has found.

SMART SBB mampu bantu capai sasaran beras negara

KUALA LUMPUR: Kementerian Pertanian dan Industri Makanan (MAFI) optimis pelaksanaan program SMART Sawah Berskala Besar (SMART SBB) mampu membantu mencapai sasaran Tahap Sara Diri (SSL) beras negara mencecah 75 peratus menjelang 2025 atau sebelum...

Bioenergy scientists discover genetic pathway for better biofuel processing

A team of researchers working within the Center for Bioenergy Innovation (CBI) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory has discovered a pathway to encourage a type of lignin formation in plants that could make the...

Is Remote Work Actually Better for the Environment?

The Covid-19 pandemic gave rise to the largest remote work “experiment” in history, accelerating a long-term trend towards flexible, remote work, and digitalization. The percentage of people working from home in the U.S. alone rose from 5% to...

Mafi to modernise agricultural industry

THE Agriculture and Food Industry Ministry (Mafi) is modernising the country’s agricultural industry in line with the National Agrofood Policy 2021-2030 to ensure food security is competitive and sustainable.

Net zero carbon framework may be launched this year, says Mustapa

KUALA LUMPUR (March 9): The government may be releasing the details of its 2050 net-zero emissions target this year, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Economy) Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed.

New discovery could lead to fewer side effects from diabetes treatment

By uncovering the subtle difference between two varieties of a protein, researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania may have discovered how to eliminate the risk of weight gain...

Mahdzir: Agricultural TVET produces agripreneurs, ensures food productivity

NILAI (March 7): The Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programme offered at universities, especially in the field of agriculture, will be able to produce agripreneurs, thus helping to increase productivity and ensure...

“Our COVID-19 Vax Efficacy is Promising; Lyme disease & Chikungunya Shots in pipeline”

Headquartered in France, Valneva, is an established European specialty vaccine company that has already commercialised the Japanese encephalitis vaccine IXIARO/JESPECT and the oral cholera vaccine DUKORAL. It has recently developed VLA2001, a COVID-19 vaccine...

Can sustainable fish farming practices generate financial returns?

According to Ohad Maiman, founder and CEO of The Kingfish Company, they can indeed – although he warned that sustainability is by no means “a free pass” to profitability. Speaking at The Economist’s 9th World Ocean Summit,...

Big Names Go Biobased – Anheuser-Busch, Coors, Amazon, and more: The Digest’s Top 8...

Lately, we all seem to need a drink and world’s largest brewer Anheuser-Busch’s Brazilian arm is making it more green by tapping into Israel’s UBQ for integrating waste-based plastics into its packaging mix. Coors...

Malaysia records RM306.5 bln investments in 2021, highest since 2006

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia recorded RM306.5 billion worth of approved investments in the manufacturing, services and primary sectors in 2021 -- the highest amount of approved investments since 2006.

“Mother of stem cells” boast better efficiency when they slow down

Researchers have found that the “mother” of all stem cells, known as totipotent stem cells, have a much slower rate of DNA replication, which helps improve their efficiency at differentiating into other cells. Putting...

3 Global Factors Driving A New Commodity Super Cycle

Hopes for docile agriculture markets in 2022 have already been blown out of the water. Instead, we could be headed for a volatile year – or more – in both ag commodities and energy....

Global market cannot replace vegetable oil exports without reducing usage in energy sector –...

KUALA LUMPUR, March 9 -- The global market cannot replace the loss of Black Sea's vegetable oil exports without sizeably reducing oil and fat consumption in the energy sector, ISTA Mielke GmbH (oil world) executive...

UAE is springboard to Malaysia’s quest to enter Middle East fresh produce markets

Malaysia’s sustainable agriculture sector has launched a new initiative to use the UAE as a springboard to penetrate new markets across the GCC region in particular, and the wider Middle East region at large. Malaysian...

Malaysian-made RTK 100% accurate in international assessment

KUALA LUMPUR: The ProDetect® COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test, manufactured in Malaysia by Medical Innovation Ventures Sdn Bhd (Mediven®), recently obtained a 100 per cent accuracy score in the well-regarded External Quality Assessment Programme (EQAP)...

Climate grave threat to billions in urbanised world, says major UN report

PARIS, March 1 — From searing “heat islands” to flash floods and rising seas, an increasing torrent of climate change impacts threatens half of the world’s population living in urban areas, a major report...

Genome reconstruction opens doors to the transformation of potato breeding

More than 20 years after the first release of the human genome, scientists at the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München and the Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research in Cologne, Germany, have for the first time...

Scaling Up Productivity Holistically To Guarantee National Food Security

KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama) – Any policy embracing initiatives to boost food productivity holistically is deemed conducive to addressing national food security risks only if it takes into consideration the use of modern cultivation techniques...

Analysis: Is WHO’s aim to vaccinate 70% of world by June still realistic?

LONDON, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Vaccinating 70% of the population in every country in the world against COVID-19 by mid-2022 has been the World Health Organization's (WHO) rallying cry to end the pandemic. But recently,...

MAFI pitching close cooperation with industry players

MERSING (March 1): The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industries (MAFI) has always worked closely with industry players in charting the direction of the agro-food sector to ensure it is in line with current...

UN agrees to create ‘historic’ global treaty on plastic trash

NAIROBI: The United Nations on Wednesday agreed to start negotiating a world-first global treaty on plastic pollution in what has been hailed a watershed moment for the planet. Nearly 200 nations at the UN Environment...

Starting Up Your Halal Facility

The Halal industry is set to expand globally from USD$3.1 trillion in 2018 to USD$5 trillion by 2030, with a similar upward trend from USD$1.6 trillion in 2018 to USD$2.8 trillion in APAC. With...

2021’s top 10 clinical trial flops

Drug development always comes with a high risk of things going awry. One commonly quoted statistic is 90% of programs fail during the clinical trial phase, mainly because of a lack of clinical efficacy.

Mafi attracts RM455 mln potential investments at Expo 2020 Dubai

DUBAI: The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry (MAFI) has managed to attract potential investments worth RM455 million through its participation in the Sustainable Agriculture Week at Expo 2020 Dubai from Feb 21 until...

World leaders and experts call for action to protect the environment from antimicrobial pollution

The Global Leaders Group on Antimicrobial Resistance today called on all countries to reduce the amount of antimicrobial waste entering the environment. This includes researching and implementing measures to safely dispose of antimicrobial waste from food,...

WHO warns of Covid-induced anxiety, depression worldwide

GENEVA: The World Health Organisation (WHO) warned on Wednesday of a sharp increase in the prevalence of anxiety and depression related to the Covid-19 pandemic, caused largely by social isolation, said Xinhua.

Clinical jobs increase as R&D and lab roles experience record growth

According to new research, life sciences firms in England and Wales are hiring R&D and laboratory scientists in record numbers, as the government continues to promote the UK as a global life sciences hub. A...

Climate Change Will Mean More Expensive Grocery Bills For Everyone, According to New IPCC...

The topline of the official press release of the latest report by the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) calls global warming “a threat to human wellbeing and health of the planet,” while optimistically...

Startup aims at waste-to-energy opportunity

There's no doubt about it: Livestock operations create waste that must be dealt with in some way. Animal manure is a valuable fertilizer, but it also sheds methane in the process, and that's considered...

Malaysia needs “big innovation purpose” to stay ahead

KUALA LUMPUR (March 3, 2022): An ambitious purpose on innovation, a synergised ecosystem and a ‘bridge’ between research and commercialisation - these are among the elements needed for Malaysia to pull ahead in the region...

Paracetamol demand doubles due to Omicron

KUALA LUMPUR: The demand for paracetamol has doubled due to the Covid-19 Omicron wave, with the price of its raw materials increasing more than 100 per cent. This was based on the initial feedback received...

Expo 2020 Dubai: NAFAS inks MoU with ARJ Holding worth RM100 mln

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 28 -- The National Farmers Organisation (NAFAS) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU). worth RM100 million, with ARJ Holding LLC (ARJ Holding) which is one of the largest companies based...

Carbon negative composites to replace wood and plastics in furniture, cars, and interiors

Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corporation (MCHC, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo) announced earlier this week that Diamond Edge Ventures, Inc. (DEV, a wholly-owned subsidiary of MCHC”) has invested in Lingrove, Inc. (San Francisco, California, USA).

Beef up our cybersecurity measures, expert tells Gov’t and businesses

FOLLOWING warnings that Malaysia may be one of the countries to be hit by cyber-attacks following the war in Ukraine, a cyber security company urged relevant parties to develop enough capability to protect the...

FDA Accepts BLAs Supporting Interchangeability From Alvotech, Pfizer for Biosimilars to Humira

The FDA has accepted for review a biologics license application (BLA) supporting interchangeability for Alvotech’s high-concentration, citrate-free formulation of its adalimumab biosimilar referencing Humira (AVT02; 100 mg/ml).

Aerobic deterioration of silage

Air is the most important factor affecting silage fermentation. It exerts its influence through the activities of aerobic micro-organisms such as bacteria, yeast and aerobic fungi. These micro-organisms act together on lowering the nutritive...

GIST scientists propose a non-invasive approach to estimating li-ion battery degradation

The emergence of electric vehicles has created a spike in the usage of lithium-ion batteries. Consequently, there is a need for diagnosing battery health reliably to prevent accidents from unexpected operational issues. To this...

Eight Malaysian companies secure investments worth RM197 mil at Expo Dubai

DUBAI (Feb 21): Eight Malaysian companies today inked over US$47 million (RM197 million) worth of investments with United Arab Emirates (UAE) based enterprises during the Sustainable Agriculture Week in Expo 2020 Dubai, in a...

Malaysia To Have Own Medical Town With UKM’s ‘Health Technopolis’

KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama) – Malaysia is poised to have its own medical town of international standard in the city with the completion of the ‘Health Technopolis’ project within the next 10 years, spearheaded by Universiti...

Malaysia an ideal partner in sustainable agriculture, says Ronald

DUBAI (Feb 21): Malaysia is an ideal partner in sustainable agriculture as the country has all the elements, as well as opportunities required for sustainable agriculture to grow and prosper such as invaluable reserves, natural...

Global plastics use in 2020 down by 2.2%

KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 22): Global plastics use in 2020 is estimated to have declined by around 10 million tonnes (Mt) or 2.2%, which is 4.5% below the pre-Covid projection, according to the Organisation for...

Malaysia on good track to achieve economic projection targets — PM

PHNOM PENH (Feb 24): Malaysia’s economic development and total foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2021 showed that the country is on good track to keep its projections to achieve its economic targets, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri...

Single-Use Technologies Need to Be Easier to Recycle

Electricity use has a much bigger environmental impact than waste when it comes to single-use technologies (SUT), and drug makers trying to make medicine production eco-friendly should keep this in mind.

APEC to strengthen food security

BANGKOK (Feb 22): Members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) should play a role in addressing some of the key food security challenges in a bid to strengthen food security and safeguard the environment.

OECD: Only nine per cent of plastic recycled worldwide

PARIS, Feb 22 — Less than 10 per cent of the plastic used across the world is recycled, the OECD said today, calling for “coordinated and global solutions” ahead of expected talks on an...

EY Biotech CEO Roundtable: What to expect in 2022

With innovation, drug pricing, IPOs, follow-on markets, and the M&A deal environment top of mind across biotech, we again gathered a diverse group of industry CEOs to discuss these trends and others, including insights...

Kesan AESI di Malaysia rendah berbanding luar negara

PUTRAJAYA: Kesan advers susulan imunisasi yang dipantau secara dekat (AESI) seperti radang otot jantung atau lapisan jantung (miokarditis/perikarditis) serta pembekuan darah vena dengan kiraan platelet rendah (thromboembolism with thrombocytopenia) bagi penerima vaksin di negara...

Scientists develop novel method to convert CO2 into fuel

The sunlight that hits Earth for approximately one hour corresponds to humanity’s total energy consumption for an entire year. Using the Sun’s energy to capture greenhouse gases, reduce the globe’s CO2 emissions, and convert it into fuel...

Good Food Institute report forecasts rising demand for plant-based meat alternatives

Plant-based meat alternatives could account for 6% of total meat consumption by 2030 if the sector continues to expand at the current rate, according to analysis by the Good Food Institute reported by World Grain on...

Halal industry to uplift Malaysia’s capacity, capabilities as global halal hub

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 21 — The halal industry which has been identified as a strategic and high-impact sector under the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP) would enhance Malaysia’s capacity and capabilities in uplifting the development...

BioNTech CEO: World ‘better prepared’ for Covid variants

FRANKFURT: The world is becoming "better prepared" to deal with future variants of the coronavirus, the CEO and co-founder of German vaccine-maker BioNTech told AFP Thursday, as the company works on an Omicron-specific shot.

Malaysia, rakan kongsi ideal pertanian lestari

DUBAI: Malaysia ialah rakan kongsi ideal pertanian lestari kerana ia memiliki semua unsur seperti rizab yang bernilai, sumber alam dan bahan mentah serta peluang untuk pertanian lestari berkembang maju.

Sarawak aims to be regional renewable energy powerhouse – Abang Johari

KUCHING, Feb 21 -- Sarawak aims to attain sustainable growth and prosperity by becoming a Southeast Asian powerhouse to provide the region with affordable and reliable renewable energy, says Chief Minister Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.

Condivergence: Implementing the circular economy

A circular economy is a recent fashionable way of redefining growth, moving away from the current “take-make-waste” industrial model, which tries to create growth through the circular process of maximising usage of resources and...

How does caffeine reduce heart disease risk?

Cardiovascular disease, also known as heart diseaseTrusted Source, affects the body’s heart and blood vessels. An estimated 18.2 millionTrusted Source adults aged 20 years and older have coronary artery disease in the United States.

Who’s ahead in the race for #1?: The Digest’s 2022 Multi-Slide Guide to The...

Who’s hot, what are they building, where, how and with whom? Where’s your opportunity in the bioeconomy boom? If you missed last week’s ABLC CONNECT, check out these slides highlighting the 50 hottest projects...

EU invests in recycling schemes

The European Commission announced an investment of over €110 million into LIFE programme integrated projects for environmental and climate protection, selected after a call for proposals covering the year 2020. The funding will support...

Proactive Communication Boosts Productivity, Healthy Culture in the Workplace

Malaysians are grappling and fighting for improvement of the economy following the outbreak of COVID-19. Good communication is a fundamental tool in achieving strong human capital to maintain productivity and strengthen working relationships at all...

Medical Devices industry venture financing deals total $585.7m in Asia-Pacific in January 2022

Total medical devices industry venture financing deals worth $585.7m were announced in Asia-Pacific in January 2022, led by $100m venture financing of Yikun Bio, according to GlobalData’s deals database.

Why the seaweed sector should move beyond red and brown and start thinking green

Despite only representing about 1 percent of global seaweed cultivation volumes, green macroalgae (Chlorophyta) could play a decisive role in the commercial seaweed sector as it expands and diversifies.

Bacteria Upcycle Waste Carbon Dioxide into Valuable Industrial Chemicals

Bacteria are known for breaking down lactose to make yogurt and sugar to make beer. Researchers headed by teams at Northwestern University, LanzaTech, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) have now selected, engineered, and...

Mafi targets RM350m investment at Expo 2020 Dubai

THE Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industries (Mafi) is committed with its target of attracting RM350 million worth of investments during the Sustainable Agriculture Week in EXPO 2020 Dubai. The event wi be held from...

Universiti Malaya Renews Three-Year MoU with Siemens Healthineers to develop local Biomedical Engineering Talents

As part of an ongoing initiative to nurture local talents in biomedical engineering, Universiti Malaya (UM) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Siemens Healthineers Malaysia (SHS MY) to renew their collaborative educational...

Philippines makes further progress on fish hatchery project

To help make the Philippines more food secure, the country’s Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) is expanding fish hatchery capacity and targeting higher production volumes.

Evolving Regulation To Fuel Innovation

New advancements in industries such as technology, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, big data analytics and the Internet of Things (IoT) are all hallmarks of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and are merely the tip...

Pertanian organik komuniti mampu atasi isu bekalan makanan

Krisis rantaian bekalan melanda dunia mula memberi impak kepada negara. Pengguna melaporkan kesukaran mendapatkan bekalan bahan makanan seperti telur ayam dan sayur-sayuran. Harga bahan makanan seperti ayam juga melambung tinggi kesan krisis inflasi disebabkan...

Scientists discover how caffeine protects against cardiovascular disease

Researchers say that just two to three average-sized cups of coffee per day contains enough caffeine to trigger a cascade effect, which reduces the levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or ‘bad’ cholesterol. High bloodstream...

How vanilla cultivation in the right place pays off for people and nature

Madagascar is the most important country for vanilla production—the fragrant ingredient that is a favorite flavor for ice cream, cakes and cookies. The vanilla orchid is cultivated in the tropical northeast of the island.

Indonesia launches biodiesel programme

Indonesia's energy ministry plans to begin road tests for a biodiesel programme using 40% palm based bio-content (B40) this month. The world's largest palm oil producer mandated that biodiesel sold in the country be blended...

Malaysia’s 4Q21 GDP print points to sustained recovery in 2022

THE Malaysian economy is well-positioned to continue benefitting from the expansion in global trade and investment activities following the acceleration of the Covid-19 booster vaccination programmes are set to improve domestic economic activities and...

Malaysia Pavilion showcases food-based agricommodities at Expo 2020 Dubai

DUBAI, Feb 11 -- The Malaysia Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai takes pride in showcasing sustainable food-based agricommodities, namely palm oil, cocoa and pepper with impactful activities such as debate and pocket talks, as well as...

The Next Big Step for Algae and Sustainable Aviation Fuels

Among the dozens of policy innovations that Congress must consider in climate change legislation is a tool that could help trigger the next stage in decarbonizing one of the most significant industries in the...

Moderna to set up new subsidiary in Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR – Biotechnology company pioneering messenger RNA (mRNA) therapeutics and vaccines Moderna, Inc. today announced plans to establish a new subsidiary in Malaysia, alongside three additional subsidiaries in Taiwan, Singapore, and Hong Kong.

Apec economies’ trade volume, value grow double-digit

KUALA LUMPUR: The Asia Pacific (Apec) region recorded a double-digit growth in trade volume and value between January and September last year, according to an Apec Policy Support Unit report. The region, which is home...

Australia ensures use of latest technology to manage diabetes

Australians with diabetes will now have access to the next-generation Dexcom G6 Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM), ensuring they can use the latest technology to manage their diabetes. From 1 March, 58,000 eligible Australians participating in...

Sarawak perkasa industri sagu, nipah

KUCHING: Lembaga Kemajuan Sagu dan Nipah (LKSN) bakal memacu perkembangan industri sagu dan nipah dalam memperkasa ekonomi masyarakat luar bandar di Sarawak. LKSN diluluskan Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Sarawak hari ini, selepas Rang Undang-Undang (RUU)...

Why the future of soda is blue

The vivid blue color of a new brand of Dutch soda doesn’t come from food coloring: The startup making the product, called Ful, makes the drink with spirulina, a blue-green algae that gives the soda...

2021 Economic Recovery An Impetus For GDP Growth To Pre Pandemic Levels

Despite the emergence of the Omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus and the occurrence of severe flooding in the Klang Valley and several states in December 2021, Malaysia’s Gross Domestic Product grew by 3.6% in...

MGRC Records Increase In Revenue Due To Distribution of Immunotherapy Treatment

Malaysian Genomics Resource Centre Bhd, a genomics and biopharmaceutical specialist, today announced that it recorded revenue of RM7.63 million for the second quarter ended 31 December 2021 (“2Q FY2022”), a significant increase of RM7.49...

Kedah sasar peningkatan hasil padi menjelang 2026

PENDANG: Kerajaan negeri bersama Pihak Berkuasa Pelaksanaan Koridor Utara (NCIA) menyasarkan peningkatan hasil padi sehingga lapan tan per hektar menjelang 2026 menerusi Program Model Pengurusan Estet Padi (EMM) 2.0.

Plastic, chemical pollution beyond planet’s safe limit, study shows

STOCKHOLM, Feb 15 — The torrent of man-made chemical and plastic waste worldwide has massively exceeded limits safe for humanity or the planet, and production caps are urgently needed, scientists have concluded for the...

New observations help explain universe’s most energetic objects

WASHINGTON, Feb 17 — Observations showing a roughly donut-shaped cloud of cosmic dust and gas shrouding a huge black hole at the heart of a galaxy similar in size to our Milky Way are...

Covid-19 pandemic ‘acute phase’ could end by midyear, says WHO boss – but depends...

The "acute phase" of the Covid-19 pandemic could end this year if 70% of the world’s population is vaccinated by July, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said on Friday.

From mustard to broccoli to oysters: The unusual ingredients coming to your beauty routine

NEW YORK, Feb 14 — Two heads of broccoli, a spoon of mustard and a sprinkling of red onion. It may sound like a culinary creation, but these foods are actually the latest essentials...

Bananas to fish scales: Fashion’s hunt for eco-materials

PARIS, Feb 17 — Sneakers made from banana or pineapple leaves, dresses from nettles or fish scales — the search for sustainable materials has taken the fashion industry to some wild places. Experts warn these...

Energy

MAFI to launch agrofood insurance and takaful scheme in Q2 2022

PUTRAJAYA: The agrofood insurance and takaful scheme, which among others provides income protection to farmers whose crops are damaged due to natural disasters or diseases, will be launched in the second quarter of this...

Bioalpha gets NPRA nod to commence human clinical trials for diabetes botanical drug

KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 7): Bioalpha Holdings Bhd has obtained the approval from the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA) to commence human clinical trials in Malaysia for the botanical drug for the treatment of Type 2...

KPDNHEP, MAFI hatching a solution on egg shortage

JERANTUT (Feb 8): The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industries (MAFI) are working hand in hand on the best solution to overcome the shortage...

KRC set to attract RM10 bln potential investments by 2025: PM

KUALA NERANG: Kedah Rubber City (KRC) is set to attract potential investments worth RM10 billion and create 15,000 job opportunities by 2025, which will provide various spillover benefits to the local community.

Indicators show Malaysia is on excellent track to recovery -PM

KUALA LUMPUR: Various indicators are clearly showing that the country is on an excellent track towards recovery from the health and economic crisis that began two years ago, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri...

Need for Speed: Kidney cancer patients waiting three times longer

A new survey by Kidney Cancer UK has revealed that two-fifths (40%) of patients are waiting over 84 days for a diagnosis, which is three times longer than NHS England’s Faster Diagnostic Standard (FDS).

Bayer partner with MustGrow to commercialise bio-pesticides from mustard seed

German chemical giant Bayer has entered into an agreement with Canadian agriculture biotech company MustGrow to commercialise bio-pesticides from mustard seed, according to Biomarket Insights. As part of the agreement, Bayer will test MustGrow’s products and...

Is remote working helping careers or hindering them?

NEW YORK, Feb 4 ― The Future Forum consortium's new Pulse report shows just how massively remote working has been adopted by the world's knowledge workers. It also notes the significant increase in remote...

Health Ministry strengthening Covid-19 clinical care pathway, to begin using antiviral drugs

PUTRAJAYA: The Health Ministry is strengthening the Covid-19 Clinical Care Pathway for the purpose of introducing the latest antiviral drugs to treat high-risk Covid-19 patients, said Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin. He said the antiviral drugs...

Soil tillage reduces availability of ‘longevity vitamin’ ergothioneine in crops

Soil tillage on farms may significantly reduce in crops the availability of ergothioneine (ERGO), an amino acid produced by certain types of soil-borne fungi and bacteria that is known as a "longevity vitamin" due...

MPOC:M’sian sustainable palm oil-based products to be available in Dubai

DUBAI, Feb 9 -- Malaysian palm oil-based products namely food products, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals will be made available at LuLu Hypermarkets in Dubai, following a collaboration sealed between the Malaysia Palm Oil Council (MPOC)...

Ekonomi Malaysia kembali berkembang akhir 2021

KUALA LUMPUR: Keluaran Dalam Negara Kasar (KDNK) Malaysia diunjurkan berkembang tiga peratus tahun ke tahun bagi suku keempat 2021 berbanding penguncupan 4.5 peratus pada suku sebelumnya, menurut Moody's Analytics.

The search for carbon-neutral protein

A light caramel liquid shines in a line of flasks in a New Zealand laboratory. It could easily be mistaken for the latest batch of kombucha in the kitchen of a fermentation enthusiast. Except...

COVID infection may boost antibodies for up to 20 months

If you've already had COVID-19, your natural antibodies may last as long as 20 months, a new study suggests. While this is reassuring, experts are quick to caution that the new findings don't necessarily mean...

Behind the Hot Year for Biofuels M&A: 2021 Review and Outlook

The M&A splurge in ethanol was the most intense in five years. Four out of the five top ethanol producers were involved in a transaction in 2021. That included a big prize: the acquisition...

Improving labour market, lower unemployment rate since December, says DOSM

KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 8): The labour market has been improving since last December with a lower unemployment rate of 4.2% with 687,600 unemployed, while employment continued to rise, according to the Department of Statistics...

Malaysia’s Pharmaceutical Industry Sees Robust Growth With Export Jumping 24%

Malaysia’s pharmaceutical industry recorded RM397.67 million of approved investment from January to September 2021, exceeding the highest full-year figure approved in 2017. The sector also achieved astounding export figures for 2021, amounting to RM2.42...

Peruvian agrifood exports to Malaysia rise 51.7 pct in Jan-Oct 2021

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 7 -- Peru’s agrifood product exports to Malaysia rose by 51.7 per cent year-on-year during the period of January to October 2021. According to a statement from Fruitnet Media International, Malaysia was the second biggest...

Corals doomed even if global climate goals met, says study

LONDON, Feb 5 — Coral reefs that anchor a quarter of marine wildlife and the livelihoods of more than half-a-billion people will most likely be wiped out even if global warming is capped within...

In Our View: Life sciences industry poised for growth

Washington long has demonstrated the benefits of innovative companies. Boeing was founded here and powered an aerospace industry that transformed the world. Microsoft was created in New Mexico but soon moved to the hometown of...

NPRA receives 1,047 AEFI reports related to Pfizer vaccine

PUTRAJAYA, Feb 8 -- The National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA) has received 1,047 reports of adverse events following immunisation (AEFI) associated with the COVID-19 Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine as of Jan 31, said its director Dr Roshayati Mohamad Sani.

Rice: an alternative feed to reduce pig, poultry production costs

Studies by Embrapa Suínos e Aves (SC) show that from a nutritional point of view rice can complement or replace corn in animal feed. The conclusion could be great news for Brazilian swine and poultry farmers...

SWCorp, USM collaborate in field of solid waste management

NIBONG TEBAL, Feb 8 -- To support government policy in the implementation of Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET), the Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corporation (SWCorp) will establish a Skills Training Centre at Universiti...

Malaysia emerges as most attractive country in SEA for foreign investment

Malaysia has become the most attractive country in Southeast Asia for foreign investors, driven by the success of attracting more than RM220 bil approved investments in 2021 for the manufacturing and services sectors, according...

‘Inaccurate’: Covid vaccine disinformation fuels medical myths

Disinformation around Covid vaccines has existed as long as the jabs themselves. Unverified studies, unproven claims and out-of-context data are regularly shared on websites and social media across the globe -- fuelling dangerous myths about...

University of Florida Scientists One Step Closer Toward Crops That Make Own Nitrogen

Scientists at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) are now one step closer to developing plants with the ability to harness nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Nitrogen is essential to plants, but plants can...

WHO warns of Covid medical waste threat

The World Health Organisation warned Tuesday that the vast amount of waste produced in tackling the Covid-19 pandemic posed a threat to human and environmental health. The tens of thousands of tonnes of extra medical...

Malaysia’s trade, exports, imports & trade surplus at historic high in 2021

Malaysia's external trade improved exponentially in 2021, registering historic performance with trade, exports, imports and trade surplus reaching an all-time high. The country's total trade surpassed RM2 trillion for the first time and recorded the...

China to strengthen anti-monopoly efforts in pharma industry

China will toughen law enforcement to curb monopoly practices and unfair competition in the pharmaceutical industry as the government seeks to foster a good business environment, the industry ministry said on Sunday.

PKPS fokus pertanian moden, beralih kepada teknologi digital

Selama 50 tahun, Perbadanan Kemajuan Pertanian Selangor (PKPS) teguh berbakti kepada rakyat Selangor seiring dengan peredaran zaman yang memerlukan adaptasi teknologi dan inovasi untuk kekal relevan. PKPS menjadi sebahagian daripada sejarah penting kepada industri pertanian...

EU Perspectives on Carbon farming, speech delivered at conference on Sustainable Carbon Cycles

The Climate Law adopted by the European Commission requires that EU greenhouse gas emissions and removals should be balanced within the Union, at the latest by 2050, with the aim to achieve negative emissions...

Government-Industry TVET Coordination Body set up to steer national TVET agenda

The Government-Industry TVET Coordination Body (GITC) has been established as a collaborative platform in steering the national TVET (technical and vocational education and training) agenda. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said GITC would...

Capitalising on global biosimilar opportunity

The potential demand for biosimilars undoubtedly generates an enormous opportunity for biopharmaceutical companies. However, biosimilar development and commercialiszation is an inimitably complex endeavour requiring a precise, stepwise strategy to ensure timely regulatory approval and...

Amla fruit: A new feed source for cows

A Chinese and US team investigated the effect of feeding amla fruit on he nutrient digestibility, fermentation parameters, and milk production of lactating dairy cows. Due to its sour and astringent taste, the Asian...

Three Outdoor Apparel Brands Redefining the Supply Chain

Expectations for a more sustainable supply chain within the apparel sector keep growing. Designers and their peers working within clothing and retail brands are rapidly changing their products’ materials to meet ever-evolving customer requirements.

Graduates Need To Keep Pace: Be Skilful Entrepreneurs, Equipped With IT Base

Malaysia has been battling the COVID-19 pandemic for more than two years now. It has brought about a huge transformation to several matters such as communication, education, the labour market, and the social, political...

New order: European cancer coalition calls for cancer treatment overhaul

Coalition urges reformation of EU-wide drug research and development to drive treatment optimisation. A coalition of 29 leading European cancer organisations led by The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) is urging...

Focusing on convenience, local ingredients and sustainability driving F&B growth in 2022

Supporting holistic health and wellness continue to be at the forefront of trends in the food and beverage (F&B) industry, with the COVID-19 pandemic still a key driver. The consumers of today have gone...

Green method for wastewater treatment in Oman wins environmental award

An environment-friendly process to treat and recycle wastewater in Oman has won an award from the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation. The process involves a wetland system consisting of locally sourced gravel, sand,...

Export performance to benefit from external demand and global technology upcycle

Malaysia's export performance will continue to benefit from external demand and the global technology upcycle, while high commodity prices will provide further impetus to export growth. Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) said, nonetheless, the trade...

Singapore explores use of wearables to help detect depression

A team of scientists from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) has developed a predictive computer programme that could be used to detect individuals who are at increased risk of depression.

The mechanisms that produce ‘menopause’ in plants identified

In those plants with a single reproductive episode, called monocarpics, the onset of reproduction is marked by the formation of the first flowers. The signals that control the start of flowering are highly studied...

Dairy sludge to be converted into fertiliser

The technology has the scope to be used in other farm sectors and has received Government funding.

A New CTA For The Life Sciences In 2022: Move Fast And Connect (Not...

As we sprint toward 2022, it is hard not to reflect on the pandemic-driven lessons that life sciences innovators have shared across the globe. Life sciences companies that are exceeding expectations all now have...

Key Regulator of Blood Stem Cell Development Identified

A protein that masterminds the way DNA is wrapped within chromosomes has a major role in the healthy functioning of blood stem cells, which produce all blood cells in the body, according to a...

January Business Update: What’s new in the world of poultry?

We’re keeping our finger on the pulse and bring you a comprehensive summary of the latest business updates from the global poultry industry this January.

New insights about the toxicity of smoke produced by home stoves and power plants

The color of smoke coming out from chimneys can vary greatly based on its source and how it is produced. For instance, small coal or biomass stoves typically release dense, black smoke, while power...

Empowering a skilled workforce through the Biokerjaya @ My Future Agro programme

VARIOUS incentives for hiring employees and training programmes through Biokerjaya @ My Future Agro have proven to develop groups of skilled employees and entrepreneurs in line with the needs of the agriculture- and food-related...

Researchers develop next generation of artificial platelets that can stop bleeding from an injury...

Biomedical researchers at Case Western Reserve University report that their latest innovation in developing synthetic platelets could help save lives by rapidly stabilizing clots to reduce blood loss from traumatic injuries.

Sektor penternakan rekod pengeluaran lebih RM20 bilion

NILAI: Sektor penternakan merekodkan pengeluaran berjumlah lebih RM20 bilion pada tahun lalu. Ketua Pengarah Veterinar, Datuk Dr Norlizan Mohd Noor, berkata jumlah itu menunjukkan potensi besar industri berkenaan bukan sahaja untuk pasaran tempatan, malah bagi...

Samsung Engineering plans green hydrogen, ammonia project in Sarawak

KUCHING (Jan 26): Samsung Engineering Co Ltd, one of the world’s leading engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) and project management companies, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to develop a green hydrogen and ammonia project in...

Why Brands of the Future Must Interweave Technology into Business Strategy

Traditionally, Malaysian enterprises tend to see and use technology in a supporting role within the business, divorcing it from larger business strategy. Research has shown that most companies focus on the ‘digitisation’ aspect of digitalisation, which...

Do not assume COVID pandemic reaching ‘end game’, warns WHO

GENEVA, Jan 24 (Reuters) - The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Monday that it was dangerous to assume the Omicron variant would herald the end of COVID-19's acutest phase, exhorting...

Philippines’ agricultural output rebounds

The Philippines' overall agricultural output grew at an annual pace of 0.6% by value in October-December, after four consecutive quarters of contraction, reported Reuters. Gains were made in crops, poultry and fisheries, which offset losses in...

How we can adapt plants to save our planet

While filming the two most recent special episodes of Follow the Food, I visited several farms around the world that, on the surface at least, look like any other farm on the planet. But...

Amid global gloom, Malaysia will achieve economic growth

The 2022 Global Risks Report published by the World Economic Forum on Jan 11 has a grim outlook for the future. Experts and decision makers surveyed for the publication shared deep concerns about how 2022 will evolve...

Omicron relief: Pfizer and BioNTech initiate study into targeted vaccine

Pfizer and BioNTech have announced the beginning of a clinical study to evaluate the safety, tolerability and immunogenicity of an Omicron-based vaccine candidate in healthy adults aged from 18 to 55 years. The study...

IOI Corp aims to plant 200ha of durian by 2024 in bid to cut...

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 26): IOI Corp Bhd is targeting to reduce its reliance on oil palm by planting 200ha of durian within five years (2020-2024). In its CGS-CIMB 14th Annual Malaysia Virtual Corporate Day slide...

Vital to have waste collection, sorting and segregation infrastructure

THE circular economy is an environmentally friendly economic approach aimed at reducing waste of resources, maximising use of materials and allowing regeneration of the natural ecosystem. This can prevent buildup of waste in landfills and...

MED4IR To Harmonise Digital Economic Plans

A digital economic plan at the state level will be coordinated through the National Council of Digital Economy and Fourth Industrial Revolution (MED4IR) to ensure the implementation mechanism of initiatives is closer to the...

The 20 European Biotech Companies to Watch in 2022

There were many memorable moments for the European biotech sector in 2021. Over the past year, investors and companies in the life sciences sector have been raising larger amounts of money than in previous years, bringing...

Why climate-friendly mariculture requires bespoke solutions

Mariculture – the farming of marine species in ocean and coastal environments – is rapidly gaining attention for its potential to be a low greenhouse gas (GHG) emission, climate-friendly source of protein, particularly in...

Cambodia to promote commercial biogas technologies

The Credit Guarantee Corporation of Cambodia (CGCC) has partnered with the Biogas Technology and Information Center (BTIC) to promote the investment of commercial biogas technologies.

Promoting Malaysia’s enterprises to the world

MALAYSIA's trade surpassed the RM2 trillion mark for the first time for the period of January to November last year, thanks to the resilient business sector. Trade, exports, imports and trade surplus recorded the highest...

Blockbuster cancer med Keytruda may help flush out dormant HIV, suggesting a new way...

In the 41-year HIV epidemic, no treatments have been approved to completely clear the virus largely because of its ability to live on in hidden form in the genomes of T cells. Now, researchers...

DVS: Livestock industry production over RM20 bln last year

NILAI: The country's livestock industry, including poultry and ruminants, recorded a total production worth more than RM20 billion last year, said Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) director-general, Datuk Dr Norlizan Mohd Noor.

Introducing the first compostable, plastic-free handbag

LONDON, Jan 25 — Known for its bags made from scraps and other recycled materials, the Been London brand has now gone one step further with a first prototype of a compostable, plastic-free bag.

Teknologi kenderaan elektrik antara fokus MOSTI pada 2022

KUALA LUMPUR: Kementerian Sains, Teknologi dan Inovasi (MOSTI) akan memfokuskan kepada tiga bidang utama iaitu kenderaan elektrik (EV), sekuriti kesihatan negara dan inovasi sosial pada tahun ini, selari dengan tema 'Merakyatkan Sains, Menginsankan Teknologi'.

Breast cancer was the most studied disease in 2021 – Phesi

Data on clinical trials conducted in 2021 show breast cancer was the most studied disease, with COVID-19 in second place, says pharmacutical company Phesi Phesi, a clinical development analytics company, has released the results of...

Scientists reveal agricultural practices increase CH4 and N2O production

A research team from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) has discovered that with appropriate agricultural management, Methane (CH4) and Nitrous Oxide (N2O) production in paddy fields is decreased under elevated Carbon Dioxide (CO2).

Malaysia’s leading FMCG firms to recycle 5,000 tonnes of plastic waste by 2022

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Recycling Alliance (MAREA), which comprises the country's 10 leading fast-moving consumer goods companies, has targeted to recycle an initial 5,000 tonnes of plastic waste by year-end. Marea also pledged to reach...

DAKN 2021-2030 to drive agricommodity sector

PUTRAJAYA: The National Agricommodity Policy (DAKN) 2021-2030 will drive the development of the agricommodity sector in a more sustainable, competitive and market-oriented manner in line with new norms and increased digital technology use post-Covid-19,...

Indonesia to begin local production of Covid-19 antiviral pills

JAKARTA: Indonesia is targeting to start local production of two COVID-19 antiviral pills, Molnupiravir and Paxlovid, in April or May this year in order to guarantee the availability of the medicines during the pandemic. “The...

Adoption of 5G technology will enhance smart farming application – REDtone

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 19 -- The application of smart farming in Malaysia is still in the early stages with more room for enhancement once the implementation of the fifth generation (5G) technology is fully available...

Businesses urge UN to adopt binding treaty on plastic pollution

Seventy leading companies and financial institutions have called on the United Nations (UN) to start negotiations on a comprehensive, legally binding treaty to tackle plastic pollution. In a joint statement issued on Monday, the companies...

7 Trends That Will Shape The Security And Identity Industry

As digital adoption becomes essential, the public sector and private enterprises should also be wary of security functions that must be included in their discussion with their IT vendor. In looking at what the...

Japan team carries out world-first spinal cord stem cell trial

TOKYO, Jan 16 — A Japanese university said Friday it has successfully transplanted stem cells into a patient with a spinal cord injury, in the first clinical trial of its kind. There is currently no...

5 TRENDS THAT WILL IMPACT THE FOOD SYSTEM’S RESILIENCE TO CLIMATE CHANGE IN 2022

Weather in 2021 showed up in superlatives. Wettest. Driest. Hottest. Coldest. Deadliest. Our collective consciousness around the changing climate was no doubt elevated. Unfortunately, it wasn’t just due to the scientists and experts who’ve been...

Indonesia plans B40 biodiesel road tests next month

JAKARTA (Jan 17): Indonesia's Energy Ministry plans to begin road tests for a biodiesel programme using 40% palm-based bio-content (B40) in February, a senior government official said on Monday (Jan 17).

Mida commits to sustainable investment ecosystem for Malaysia

THE Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida) is committed to building a sustainable investment ecosystem for Malaysia this year. In its recent annual media appreciation and networking event, Mida CEO Datuk Arham Abdul Rahman, shared a...

CDC Advises N95s as Best Masks Against Coronavirus

SUNDAY, Jan 16, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- The time to upgrade your mask is now. In a departure from its prior advice on face masks, new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention...

MD2 Pineapple Gives Agripreneur Sweet Taste Of Success

KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama) -- Hasnul Amri Jamaluddin joins a growing number of young agripreneurs who are capitalising on booming consumer demand for the MD2 pineapple (Ananas comosus) variety.

Malaysia’s Renewable Energy Outlook 2022: The Rise of Household Solar, Carbon Neutral Goals &...

Globally, we are witnessing an ongoing worldwide energy shortage, environmental crisis and rising raw renewable energy material costs. Along with this, we see rising concern for climate change and sustainability, increased governance (ESG) considerations.

Malaysia to grow 5.6pct in 2022, says HSBC

KUALA LUMPUR: HSBC believes the Malaysian economy has one of the brighter outlooks in the region and will emerge from a "double-dip" recession despite a lot of uncertainties. The bank expects the country's gross domestic...

5 ways gene editing is making crops climate-resilient

Our world is undergoing climate changes that have triggered a spate of calamitous disruptions on agricultural production and overall food security. From the devastations of tropical typhoons to droughts that are increasingly pervasive and severe, it appears that Nature...

Scientists develop recyclable plastics based on sugars

Researchers from the University of Birmingham, U.K., and Duke University, U.S., have created a new family of polymers from sustainable sources that retain all of the same qualities as common plastics, but are also...

Bioprocessing 4.0 Depends on Advances in Optical Sensors

The move to Bioprocessing 4.0 depends heavily on advancing sensor technology. Only then can one accurately monitor and control biochemical reactions occurring in living cells. At the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), Govind...

Philips biobased appliances, BIOPROT face masks, bio yoga mats and bandages, and more: The...

That mornin’ cup of joe will taste even better knowing it was brewed in a biobased coffee maker. Yep, biobased appliances are going mainstream with Philips launching an entire line of home appliances –...

Malaysia-developed NX-UVC Shield safe for humans, lethal for viruses

KUALA LUMPUR: New Zealand-based Malaysian researcher Dr Vickneswaran M Veloo believes that Nexus air disinfection technology using UV-C developed in Malaysia (NX-UVC Shield) is safe for humans but lethal for viruses. He said this could...

Could bacteriophages play a part in poultry farming?

Many Kenyan poultry farmers still opt to use antibiotics to treat infections. Studies show however, there is a high prevalence of resistance to clinically relevant antibiotics for example. Bacteriophages could aid in alleviating antibiotic...

Biomining: Turning Waste into Gold with Microbes

High-value metals make the modern world go round, but the way we extract and dispose of them is far from sustainable. Biomining could be an elegant and lucrative alternative. From the gold and silver in...

Ensuring synthetically produced food meets halal requirements

TECHNOLOGY is applied to meet the world's food security needs and ensure the sustainability of the food supply chain. Synthetic technology in food science is emerging as a new development that can affect the quality...

Exxon pledges net-zero carbon emissions from operations by 2050

Exxon Mobil on Tuesday pledged to cut to zero its net carbon emissions from its global operations by 2050, catching up with rivals who are minimizing their carbon footprints. Exxon’s 2050 plan, first mulled last year, covers...

A fresh approach to farming and funding for Indonesia’s seaweed sector

Sea Green aims to enhance aquacultural value chains from end-to-end through the digital, organisational, and commercial enablement of coastal communities. Operating within the guiding principles of the UN’s SDGs, the startup is already working alongside...

Innovative technology impacting healthcare

In recent years, sophisticated technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), have been invaluable resources throughout a growing number of industries. The healthcare sector is set to significantly grow when it...

HealthcareAsia Magazine

Culture Eats Strategy For Breakfast

This famous saying by Peter Drucker highlights this: You can come up with a gold-standard strategy, but it will fail if your organisation’s culture can’t or won’t make it a reality. After all, people...

WHO cautions against concurrent outbreaks of Covid-19, other diseases

GENEVA (Jan 13): The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Wednesday cautioned and urged for preparedness against concurrent outbreaks of COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases during the coming spring.

Pengusaha nanas program LPNM keluar daripada B40

SETIU: Kajian Lembaga Pembangunan Nanas Malaysia (LPNM) mendapati 90 peratus pengusaha nanas hasil program LPNM, berjaya memperoleh purata pendapatan RM5,000 sebulan, sekali gus mengeluarkan mereka daripada kategori kumpulan isi rumah berpendapatan rendah (B40).

Indonesia: Green investment hoped to create 4.4 million new jobs

JAKARTA, Jan 7 (Bernama): Green investment in the circular economic system will create 4.4 million new job opportunities in Indonesia by 2030, according to an official from the Indonesian National Development Planning Ministry.

Prestasi eksport negara terus meningkat

PUTRAJAYA: Eksport Malaysia pada November 2021 meningkat sebanyak RM27.5 bilion atau 32.4 peratus kepada RM112.2 bilion berbanding tahun sebelumnya. Sementara itu, jumlah dagangan Malaysia bagi November 2021 bernilai RM205.5 bilion, meningkat 34.9 peratus tahun ke...

WHO: Booster doses of current vaccines may not be enough

THE World Health Organisation (WHO) said that current COVID-19 vaccines may need to be updated if they are to provide continued protection against emerging variants, including Omicron. WHO’s Technical Advisory Group on COVID-19 Vaccine Composition...

Learn from Singapore how to revitalise our agricultural sector

Malaysia's agriculture and food sector has been experiencing significant supply chain disruptions ever since the Covid-19 pandemic hit us in early 2020. The sector is facing rising costs as producers are still unable to restore...

Plastic-free food packaging that kills dangerous bacteria

A team of scientists from NTU Singapore and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health has developed a ‘smart’ food packaging material that is biodegradable, sustainable and kills microbes that are harmful to humans.

Traveling the bioeconomy: how tourism can green our food systems

Bosa Malvasia wine is native to the idyllic hillscapes of Western Sardinia. The best way to sample it is via the Bosa Malvasia Route. Founded through a public-private partnership, its itinerary takes visitors through...

Robotics in Medical (2021): Regulatory trends

As robotics spreads to more industrial and service sectors, one of the most important tasks ahead for policymakers will be to harness the economic benefits that robotics can bring while minimising the negative social...

Poultry feed formulation in an antibiotic free era

Nowadays, our livestock can be seen as Olympic athletes and the question is how to keep high productive livestock healthy. Feed plays a major role in the well-being of animals and in the reduction...

Which Is More Important To Biofuels – The Soil Or The Crop?

As an Earth scientist, I was pleased to see it was the soil. I shouldn’t have been surprised. Farmers have known this for centuries. Soil texture and soil microbes are key. It’s what a farmer...

Reducing Fossil Fuel Dependence Using the Bioeconomy

A new review paper presented in the Sustainability journal looks at key questions around the current issues, debates, and trends surrounding the development of a sustainable bioeconomy. The paper’s primary aim is to discuss whether an economy...

Seven Biopharma Trends to Watch in 2022

Last year began with a surge of hope as the first vaccine doses protecting against COVID-19 rolled out worldwide. Then, in July, that surge of hope was followed by a surge of worry when the Delta...

Malaysian Pineapple Industry Board: 90pc of pineapple entrepreneurs exit B40 group

SETIU, Jan 11 — A study conducted by the Malaysian Pineapple Industry Board (LPNM) found that 90 per cent of pineapple entrepreneurs, produced under the board’s programmes, have obtained an average income of RM5,000...

Biofuel consumption to fall by 2031, EU report reveals

Biofuel demand in the European Union is set to fall by 2031 as the transport sector shifts from fossil fuel. Palm oil imports are also set to fall following tighter environment regulation, the European Commission...

Nature Is Sexist. Can Advances In Longevity Biotechnology Help Restore Reproductive Equality?

Evolution is a great concept. As AI scientists we use it all the time to develop better algorithms rewarding and punishing them according to their actions in simulated environments. But when nature does it...

New strategy could improve generic drug quality assessments

According to researchers, a newly developed strategy could improve the quality of generic drugs by assessing process control and process risk. In addition to enhancing generic drug quality consistency, the approach could also serve...

Nanotechnology strategies for plant genetic engineering

Humanity's efforts to modify food plants is as old as farming itself, some 10,000 years. Before genetic engineering became possible, farmers have used simple selection inter- and intraspecies and crossing – for instance, today's...

SWCorp hauls almost 83.000 tonnes of post-flood bulk waste from six states

HULU LANGAT (Jan 10): The Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corporation (SWCorp) collected 82,850 tonnes of solid waste from six states affected by the floods recently, said Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister...

Gloomy outlook for global recovery, World Economic Forum survey finds

LONDON, Jan 11 — Only one in 10 World Economic Forum members surveyed expects the global recovery to accelerate over the next three years, a poll of nearly 1,000 business, government and academic leaders...

How China Is Getting Drug Companies to Slash Prices

China has been overhauling its health-care system with the aim of providing broader access to quality drugs for its enormous population. The result: Drug prices are tumbling and the once-high profit margins of drugmakers,...

Nano-fertiliser to cut nutrient waste

Embrapa Florestas, part of the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa) and Brazilian company Polli Fertilizantes Especiais are developing a nano-fertiliser to combat one of the biggest problems in agriculture: the very low nutrients absorption...

New catalytic approach directly converts raw biomass into natural gas with low carbon footprint

Natural gas can be used as fuel for generating electricity, heating and powering transportation. It is also the raw material to manufacture hydrogen and ammonia. Currently, biogenic and thermogenic processes are the two widely accepted...

10 trends to change lives in future, from education to health

Washington/Berlin, Jan 5 -- Ten trends in technology, career-making and finance are on course to radically change people’s lives in the next decade. While the coronavirus pandemic has had devastating effects on public health...

Sinovac booster dose can activate cellular immunity against Omicron variant

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 1): Preliminary results of a study conducted by the Pontifical Catholic University in Chile (UC) showed that the Covid-19 Sinovac vaccine booster dose could activate cellular immunity against the Omicron variant,...

Cockle hub for Pontian

THE Johor Fisheries Department plans to introduce 10 cockle farms this year, mainly centred in Pontian. It is part of the state government’s initiative to turn the Pontian district into the national cockle hub.

Malaysia aims to implement B20 biodiesel mandate by end of 2022

Malaysia intends to implement its nationwide adoption of the B20 palm oil biofuel programme by the end of the year, the country's palm oil board has announced. The mandate to manufacture biofuel with a 20%...

Top 10 Predictions for the Advanced Bioeconomy in 2022

A mere “The Year in Rewind” as we sail into 2022? Not the good ship Digest! Instead, we dust off our crystal ball and offer our predictions for the year ahead. As the sunset of...

2021 Medtech Big 100: The world’s largest medical technology industry companies

These are the heavy hitters of medtech, the 100 biggest companies in the medical device industry ranked by annual revenue. They have approximately $421 billion in combined sales, employ more than 1.4 million people...

Frequent stover mulching builds healthy soil through bacterial community

Soil health refers to the ability of soils to perform vital living system functions in accordance with their potential and over time, and is the foundation of productive, sustainable agriculture. Conservation tillage, such as...

MPOB bangun teknologi poliol mesra alam berasas sawit

KUALA LUMPUR: Lembaga Minyak Sawit Malaysia (MPOB) berjaya membangunkan lebih 10 jenis poliol berasaskan sawit baharu untuk diaplikasikan dalam bahan polimer, khususnya poliuretana yang mesra alam.

Work, school, play: How Covid reshaped our world

PARIS, Jan 6 — The most basic everyday activities, from working to shopping and going to school, have completely transformed during the Covid-19 pandemic, and may never be the same again. As the world marks...

Pfizer/BioNTech to develop mRNA-based shingles shot

BERLIN, Jan 6 — Germany’s BioNTech and US pharma giant Pfizer, which together developed a Covid-19 vaccine in record time, said Wednesday they are working on a shingles shot using the same mRNA technology.

Three Natural Ingredients Coming To Beauty Routines In 2022

And so, 2022 is shaping up to be the year of natural beauty, with a focus on superfoods, but also, and above all, on age-old ingredients that are making their way into many of...

Waste management should be reviewed to avoid mucilage: Experts

Turkey’s waste management policy should be renewed, and the treatment systems should be operated at full efficiency so that the marine mucilage invasion in the Marmara Sea would not happen again, according to experts.

Malaysia Outlook 2022: Five risks to watch

TWO years into the COVID-19 pandemic, the Malaysian economy is coming out of its economic trough in 3Q2021 (gross domestic product (GDP) at -4.5% year-on-year) and is on a path to recovery in 2022,...

Biosimilar Savings Through 2025 Could Total $38.4 Billion

A team of researchers have concluded that savings from biosimilars from 2021 to 2025 could total $38.4 billion, if the downward pressure biosimilars exert on reference drug prices is included, and that savings could be higher...

Sektor agromakanan rugi RM67.72 juta akibat banjir

ALOR GAJAH: Sektor agromakanan negara dianggarkan mengalami kerugian kira-kira RM67.72 juta membabitkan 5,500 pengusaha sektor berkenaan yang terdiri daripada penternak, peladang dan pesawah, akibat bencana banjir yang berlaku di beberapa negeri baru-baru ini.

Top 10 Influencers in the Bioplastics Industry 2021

This is a top 10 Ranking of the most influential people in Bioplastics. This ranking is based on my personal opinion having followed the news in 2021

Resetting Digital Transformation Strategies: Digital Age Talent Management

Many traditional talent management processes were not designed for today’s increasingly digital landscape. Working in the Human Resources Department, I genuinely feel that more professionals must be equipped to drive and navigate change in...

FDA authorizes expanded use of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine boosters

With the U.S. facing the biggest surge of COVID-19 infections to date, the FDA has decided to amend the emergency use authorization (EUA) for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to cover adolescents aged 12 to...

Aquaculture researchers raise concerns over probiotic safety

Aquaculture producers are using probiotics as a sustainable way to prevent disease, boost growth and improve the health of their fish – but a recent review in Aquaculture Reports has raised concerns over the safety of many...

The Digest’s Biofuels Mandates Around the World 2022

Lessons From 2021 Dictates China’s Future Economy

In a year highlighted by unexpected disruptions and mounting uncertainties, China is set to secure stable growth with the help of its swift policy response. The world’s second-largest economy expanded 9.8 percent year on year...

Opportunities for Spaceflight to Advance Stem Cell Science, Biomanufacturing, and Disease Modeling

The secret to producing large batches of stem cells more efficiently may lie in the near-zero gravity conditions of space. Scientists at Cedars-Sinai report that microgravity has the potential to contribute to life-saving advances...

An AGP alternative that really is an alternative

It’s no secret that enteric disease costs the poultry industry billions of dollars each year, and that maintaining intestinal health has become significantly more challenging with the removal of subtherapeutic antibiotic growth promoters (AGP)...

Bioenergy crops create cooling effect on cultivated areas: Study

Converting annual crops to perennial bioenergy crops can induce a cooling effect on the areas where they are cultivated, according to a new study. Cultivation area under bioenergy crops occupies 3.8 per cent ± 0.5 per cent...

2021: A year of recovery, return of power, past reminiscent

2021 was predicted to be the year of recovery for Malaysia. However, many events this year turned out to be reminiscent of some events in the past, with some dating more than five decades...

The link between lung cancer and air pollution

AN international team of scientists, led by Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore), has linked increased air pollution to an uptick in cases of lung adenocarcinoma (LADC) worldwide. The same study also concluded that an...

Ancom expands agricultural chemicals footprint by acquiring livestock chemicals business

KUALA LUMPUR: Ancom Crop Care Sdn Bhd (ACC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ancom Bhd, has acquired an 80 per cent equity interest in Shennong Animal Health (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd (SAH) and Vemedim Sdn Bhd...

ESG and sustainability compliance in palm oil industry

As the world's appetite of palm oil is see rising along with global population, the edible oil will continue to be under watchful eyes, especially in the area of environmental, corporate and...

Giving waste value: Utilising biotechnology to convert food waste

All the large feed producers are looking for new and more sustainable feed ingredients, substituting fish meal and soy as protein and omega-3 ingredients. The aquaculture industry has been growing for decades and is...

Latest numbers more robust than expected as Malaysia’s trade exceeds RM2tri for first time:...

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's trade breaches the RM2 trillion mark for the first time, in just 11 months, with economists saying the latest November figures are more robust than expected. The stellar figures also suggested that...

Indonesia eyes a stronger role in medical tourism

JAKARTA, 27 Dis -- Indonesia is building a new international hospital in Denpasar City, Bali in a bid to woo medical tourists and encourage its citizens to get medical treatment domestically instead of going abroad. President...

E. coli vaccination can lead to higher egg numbers, study suggests

Avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC) is a costly disease in poultry and can affect broilers and breeders as well as layers. In long-lived birds it can be damaging for profitability as it can hit after...

Sustainable food packaging that keeps harmful microbes at bay

A team of scientists from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, US, has developed a 'smart' food packaging material that is biodegradable, sustainable and kills microbes...

Resetting digital transformation strategies: Digital age talent management

MANY traditional talent management processes were not designed for today’s increasingly digital landscape. Working in the Human Resources Department, I genuinely feel that more professionals must be equipped to drive and navigate change in this...

FDA authorizes another oral antiviral for COVID-19 treatment

WASHINGTON, Dec 24 -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Thursday authorized American pharmaceutical company Merck's oral antiviral for the treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID-19, the second pill approved for treating COVID-19 following...

U.S. FDA classifies acacia gum as dietary fiber

The acacia gum, also known as gum Arabic or E414, has been recognised by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a dietary fiber. This means that products that contain this functional ingredient...

Climate tech investment is booming — but it’s leaving ‘$5 notes lying on the...

(Dec 29): Climate tech funding saw explosive growth in 2021, yet the startups garnering the most investment are not necessarily the ones that go the furthest in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, Yahoo! Finance reported.

Disruptions Redefine Risk and Opportunity in 2022

When news of COVID-19 first spread, few of us could have imagined how disruptive the pandemic would be, how it would impact nearly every aspect of our daily lives—and that we would still be...

A look back at 2021: The year of the vaccine

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 26 — The availability of a vaccine to the dreaded SARS-CoV-2 virus in 2021 was like a light at the end of a very dark tunnel that had been 2020, the...

Tech-savvy padi farmers reap gains of innovation

SABAK BERNAM: Working in air-conditioned machines in padi fields was at one time unheard of. However, second generation padi farmer Khairul Affendi Jarnuri from Sekinchan said the community is becoming more tech-savvy and willing to...

KASA approves use of portable pyrolysis for solid waste disposal

PUTRAJAYA (Dec 27): The Environment and Water Ministry (KASA) on Monday (Dec 27) approved the use of portable pyrolysis to facilitate the disposal of solid waste generated by the flood disaster, said its secretary-general Datuk Seri Dr Zaini Ujang.

Incorporating Education 4.0 Skills In a Work-Based Learning Environment

Malaysia is transitioning from a labour-driven economy to a knowledge-driven society. Many countries including Malaysia want to become industrial communities. Since the use of information communication and technology (ICT) has a major impact on...

India, Malaysia enjoy strong cooperation in the field of traditional medicine systems

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 24 -- The cooperation between India and Malaysia is strong and growing in the field of traditional medicine systems, said India's High Commissioner to Malaysia B.N. Reddy. Reddy said that there is...

UK farmers turn to seaweed in a bid to reduce livestock methane emissions

Following an agreement at COP26 where the US and EU pledged to reduce agricultural outputs from ruminant livestock by upwards of 30 percent by 2030, scientists at Queen's University Belfast's Institute for Global Food Security...

Russia considers processing food waste into feedstuff

This is not the first time that Russian authorities have tried to revise the current rules of food waste processing for the benefit of the domestic feed industry. A draft bill allowing Russian feed companies...

Digitalise Before Its Too Late

On 9 December 2021, H3C Malaysia successfully held the first-ever Malaysia H3C Day 2021. Themed “Together for Better”, H3C Day aims to build an open and collaborative communication channel for industry leaders and experts...

2022 forecast: Pharma has the tools. Will clinical trials be less white in next...

About 130 million Americans across various races are "being somewhat ignored, deprioritized, in clinical trials" that support regulatory approval, said Yele Aluko, M.D., chief medical officer for EY Americas, in a November Fierce Biotech interview....

How Biotech Crops Can Crash—and Still Never Fail

The United Nations Food Systems Summit held last September was eclipsed by a powerful countermobilization effort led by farmers and scientists, as well as civil society groups allied with Indigenous communities and small-scale food producers across...

France’s 1st carbon-negative building thanks to hempcrete, new hemp-based 3D ink, seaweed yarn, biobased...

France is claiming the world’s first carbon-negative building, thanks in large part to the carbon-sequestering power of hemp. The 4,000 square foot sports hall was constructed using Hempcrete, a construction alternative that incorporates fast-growing,...

FRA an ‘indispensable’ tool in managing Malaysia’s fiscal space, says World Bank

KUALA LUMPUR: The government's proposal to implement the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA) is deemed as an "indispensable" tool in managing Malaysia's fiscal space, according to World Bank Malaysia. The FRA, which was mooted in the...

Pharmaceuticals in 2022

The value of pharma innovation is undoubted, after COVID-19 vaccines were developed at record speed. Pharma manufacturing and supply chains have so far delivered 7.5bn vaccine doses, and also kept supplies of most other...

Mafi allocates RM10 mln for urban farming next year

JASIN: The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industries (MAFI) has allocated about RM10 million to implement the Urban Farming programme at 1,430 locations nationwide next year. MAFI deputy minister I Datuk Seri Ahmad Hamzah said...

SWCorp focuses on food waste sector to increase national recycling rate in Malaysia

PUTRAJAYA, Dec 17 — Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corporation (SWCorp) will focus on the food waste recycling sector to achieve the target of 40 per cent National Recycling Rate by 2025. SWCorp chief...

EAC recommends eight change agendas to spur economy post-Covid

KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 20): The Economic Action Council (EAC) secretariat has identified eight change agendas for the government to consider as strategic thrusts to drive the national economic transformation in the new post-Covid-19 crisis...

South Korean drug firms rush to develop vaccines effective against omicron

SEOUL, Dec 18 -- South Korean drugmakers have begun the process to develop COVID-19 vaccines that are effective against the new omicron variant amid concerns that the highly transmissible strain may become a dominant one...

Innovative approach to agricultural precision

The agricultural industry is rapidly developing technologies involving unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and image processing techniques, which are quickly becoming essential tools for efficient precision agriculture and assessment of observable plant traits (known as plant phenotyping).

#TECH: Alibaba announces carbon neutrality goal 2030

HANGZHOU, CHINA: Alibaba Group Holding Limited (Alibaba) announced a pledge to achieve carbon neutrality in its own operations by 2030 and introduced a Scope 3+ target, a pioneering initiative aiming to facilitate 1.5 gigatons...

HDC tingkat usaha pembangunan ekosistem halal negara

Petaling Jaya: Jelajah Halal Malaysia (JHM) 2021 Sabah, akan mengukuhkan peranan Halal Development Corporation (HDC) sebagai agensi penyelaras pusat serta pemudahcara dalam pembangunan ekosistem halal negara. Ketua Pegawai Eksekutifnya, Hairol Ariffein Sahari, berkata JHM 2021...

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