Parties exchange MoU on bioeconomy project
KUCHING: Sarawak will have its first Bioeconomy Community Development Programme (BCDP) project, thanks to the cooperation between Biotechnology Diversified Industries Sdn Bhd ( BDISB) and local fishermen and sago smallholders’ cooperatives that have a membership of about 975.
T h e m emo r a n d um o f understanding ( MoU) on the cooperation was exchanged between BDISB and the local fishermen and sago smallholders’ cooperatives in conjunction with the launching of Bioborneo and Bioeconomy Day 2017 at a hotel here yesterday.
“The cooperation signifies the first BCDP project to be implemented in Sarawak that will seethedevelopmentofanintegrated biofeed manufacturing facility in Mukah and the surrounding areas to produce animal and aqua feed by converting fish waste and sago waste into highvalue protein additives,” said Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation ( Mosti) Datuk Seri Panglima Wilfred Madius Tangau.
Wilfred’s text of speech was read out by his ministry’s secretary general Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Azhar Yahaya. Also present were Assistant Minister of Education and Technological Research Dr Annuar Rapaee, Mosti under-secretary Mohd Rosli Abdullah, Malaysian Bioeconomy Development Corporation acting chief executive off icer Syed Agil Syed Hashim and Sarawak Biodiversity Centre chief executive officer Dr Yeo Tiong Chia.
In his speech, Wilfred also said
This is an encouraging sign for Sarawak and it should catalyse the efforts of building a strong bioeconomy in the state for stronger socio-economic growth. Datuk Seri Panglima Wilfred Madius Tangau, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation
the implementation of bioeconomy programmes in East Malaysia will continue to contribute towards realising the long-term national Bioeconomy Transformation Programme ( BTP) targets of achieving RM48 billion in gross national income (GNI), creation of 170,000 new jobs and attracting investment of RM50 billion by 2020.
Other BTP projects that have been implemented in Sarawak include the conversion of biomass into bio- energy by Olive Energy Sdn Bhd that wi l l generate electricity and benefit more than 110,000 households in Mukah, he added.
“This i s an encouraging sign for Sarawak and it should catalyse the efforts of building a strong bioeconomy in the state for stronger socio- economic growth.”
As for the BCDP, Wilfred said it aims to create and provide job opportunities to more than 3,500 farmers by 2020 to enable them to earn a minimum additional income of RM4,500 per month, benefitting more than 15,000 people in rural communities.
Other than that, he said the BCDP is part of the National Blue Ocean Strategy (NBOS) initiative, as it fits the NBOS criteria in having high impact, low cost, rapid execution and sustainability.
“The essence of these projects wi l l enhance the role and contribution of rural communities towards the bioeconomy and at the same time elevate the socioeconomic status and quality of life for the citizens.
“I wish to see the creation of more BTP and BCDP projects as well as BioNexus Status companies in Sarawak to further drive this rural development.”
On Smart Farming, which i s cha r ac t e r i s e d by the interconnection between farms and processing f aci l it ies, Wilfred said the rural farming communities in Sarawak could certainly benef it from this development because it helps them to grow as bio-agropreneurs and increases the quantity and quality of their food and crop production.
“As such, the role of Mosti is to ensure that industry players and rural farmers are able to utilise these technologies by making them more accessible and affordable.”
Apart from the agricultural sector, he said there is also the need to focus on solutions in other bio-based areas in Sarawak, such as resource-based industry, natural products, biomedical and bioindustrial areas which will provide competitive advantages to the state’s bioeconomy.