RM5.3mil to upgrade facilities, address food security issues, Chang tells Dewan

KUALA LUMPUR: The Science, Technology, and Innovation Ministry is allocating RM5.3mil until 2025 to upgrade the nuclear technology application facilities and laboratories of the Malaysian Nuclear Agency (Nuklear Malaysia) in an effort to address the country’s food security issues.

Minister Chang Lih Kang announced that this year, the ministry initiated a project aimed at enhancing food safety and security through mutation breeding techniques. The goal is to increase agro-food productivity. Chang also mentioned that the stable isotope technique is being employed to authenticate food and verify its origin.

In addition to its role as the leader of the science, technology, and innovation (STI) agenda, the Ministry is contributing to the strengthening of the country’s food security through the use of technology. For instance, local companies are utilizing drones and robotics for the process of spraying fertiliser and planting trees, reducing dependence on foreign labor and increasing efficiency.

Furthermore, the Malaysia Commercialisation Year (MCY) initiative is effectively commercializing local research and innovation from universities, institutions, and local research agencies. This has led to the commercialization and marketing of 474 local research and development (R&D) products or technologies, generating RM540mil in sales revenue, as highlighted by Chang.

Research conducted by agencies under the Ministry in the agro-food sector has resulted in the production of NMR 152 rice seeds by Nuklear Malaysia. These seeds have the capacity to yield up to 10 tonnes of rice per hectare, significantly higher than the approximately six tonnes produced by regular seeds. The production of NMR 152 seeds has received international recognition from organizations such as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the Forum for Nuclear Cooperation in Asia (FNCA).

In addition to the aforementioned efforts, Chang mentioned that his Ministry is in the process of developing guidelines for the feasibility study of space launch technology. These guidelines will ensure that any proposed launch site fulfills all government requirements. Industry players interested in establishing a launch site are expected to submit a feasibility report based on the guidelines for government evaluation. If the study confirms the feasibility of the launch site, the government will engage with the local community in the form of sessions to gather feedback.

– Bernama