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Sinar Daily
2 days ago
- Health
- Sinar Daily
The future in a grain: Malaysia's bet on gene-edited rice
KUALA LUMPUR - The leaves tell the story. Laid side by side in a research glasshouse at the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (Mardi) in Serdang, Selangor, the two paddy leaves look alike at first glance. But under the sharp gaze of principal research officer Dr Zulkifli Ahmad Seman, the difference is obvious. One leaf is almost all yellow, a sickly sign of bacterial blight - a disease that has afflicted Malaysian rice fields for decades and caused losses amounting to hundreds of thousands of ringgit. The other is almost entirely green, save for a faint yellowing at the tip. It comes from a rice line Zulkifli and his team edited using CRISPR-CS9 technology. "So with the host, the protein (blight) can't attach because of where we've mutated it. So when it cannot attach, that's where it will stop," he said at Mardi's headquarters. Since 2021, Zulkifli and other Mardi scientists have been involved in a project to develop new genetically edited rice varieties with targeted traits, such as resistance to disease and tolerance to climate challenges like extreme heat and drought. He said they now had a potential gene-edited (GE) paddy line, which is currently undergoing the screening phase. He said so far, their research has shown that blight would only affect 11 per cent of the leaves of GE paddy. The line is not just a scientific breakthrough. It is the first GE plant for Mardi and Malaysia. But as Zulkifli's team approaches the fifth generation of the disease-resistant seed, they are coming closer to confronting an arguably worse challenge than blight: Malaysia's regulatory gray zone. Photo for illustration purposes only. GRAY ZONE Malaysia is one of Asia's highest per capita consumers of rice but it does not grow enough of it. In 2023, per capita consumption was 76.7 kilogrammes per year, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security. The numbers have decreased from 2022, showing a 4.7 per cent decrease in rice production, from 2.28 million tonnes in 2022 to 2.18 million tonnes in 2023. According to the same statistics, local rice production can only meet 56.2 per cent of local demand, leaving the country vulnerable to price shocks and supply disruptions. For paddy farmers like 57-year-old Puteh Hassan in Kedah, the worsening weather patterns and recurring disease outbreaks have made harvests increasingly uncertain. "There was one season we were badly hit (by bacterial blight). We lost 60 per cent of our paddy. When it (blight) strikes, there's nothing inside (the paddy husks)... it's empty,' she said over the phone. Zulkifli's research, should it be allowed to continue, may be able to save Puteh's paddy field from another disastrous attack. But the issue putting the research in limbo is whether current regulations on genetically modified organisms (GMOs) should apply to GE crops or not. Unlike genetically modified organisms, GE crops do not contain foreign DNA, such as Bt corn, which has the DNA from the bacterium Bacillus Thuringiensis to make it pest-resistant. Instead, they involve precise deletions or tweaks to existing genes a process some researchers argue is closer to accelerated natural selection. As such, scientists and biotechnologists argue they cannot be judged according to the same standards. So far, the regulatory framework has not caught up. Malaysia's Biosafety Act 2007 governs GMOs but when the law was passed, there was no CRISPR technology or any effective way to edit the genome. The scientists are in a quandary - they are doing ground-breaking work with the potential to help the nation feed its people, but will their GE rice even see the light of day? Bernama contacted the National Biosafety Board (NBB) for clarification but the board did not respond before press time. THE YELLOW FIELDS Puteh remembers the season her paddy fields turned yellow. Born in Kedah and raised by paddy farmers, she then married a paddy farmer. Managing her own paddy field for the past 15 years, Puteh has seen plenty of bad years. But she still remembers when the blight wiped out almost all of her income in 2019. "It was terrible. I lost one tonne of paddy that season," she said. She had hoped the ensuing seasons would be better but she found that her yields either improved marginally or got worse. In recent years, extreme temperatures and sudden floods have become more common. "Climate change is really bad now; all kinds of natural disasters, rain, then, water shortages,' she said. On top of that, blight is still there. Bacterial blight, caused by Xanthomonas oryzae, spreads quickly in flooded paddies and thrives in warm, humid environments like Malaysia's. It browns and withers paddy leaves and cuts grain production, leaving farmers with rotten fields. At the same time, farmers are growing less rice. According to National Association of Smallholders Malaysia president Adzmi Hassan, many smallholders have shifted to more lucrative crops like oil palm. "Have you ever heard of paddy as a commodity that can increase income for small businesses?' he asked. "But we eat rice. There is demand for it here." He added Malaysia should not just look at technology, it should also look at enriching and encouraging paddy farmers to grow the staple crop. One way would be to ensure there is a consistent and predictable yield year by year. For two years in a row, beginning in the 2023/24 season, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) had predicted Malaysia's rice production would be below average. At Mardi's research centre, the GE padi stands as a potential solution. Until they get more information, Mardi researchers are operating under the assumption that their GE rice will not be subject to the same burdensome approval process that stymied past biotech efforts involving GMO products. But, still, the fear is there. The scientists remember all too well efforts to conduct open field trials of a pesticide-resistant strain of GMO padi in Perlis in 2019. Nearby communities and environmentalists protested against holding the trials, in accordance with NBB guidelines. In the end, the project was shelved. Mardi senior research officer Dr Mohd Waznu Adlyl said Malaysia should follow Japan's and a few other countries' lead, which exempts certain gene-edited crops from GMO regulation if no foreign DNA is present. These countries treat GE crops as normal crops as the gene-editing process works just like natural mutations, only faster. He also said the benefits for the world outweighed any potential risks. "We hope this rice that we produce through gene-editing technology can somehow help our (scientists) to produce new varieties because we know, outside, there are many issues, like climate change and new emerging pests," he said. But many disagree, seeing GE foods and GMOs as the same. Third World Network biosafety programme coordinator Lim Li Ching indicated that they were prepared to protest should GE crops be allowed to stage open field trials without any oversight. "Just because we can do it doesn't mean we should," she said via Google Meet from her home in the United Kingdom. While CRISPR technology may work within a plant's own genome, she warned that it can bypass the slow, regulated nature of evolutionary change - introducing traits or gene interactions that may not have natural precedents. She added that even seemingly minor edits could cause unintended effects at the molecular level. Marrying food and technology has rarely if ever received unequivocal support from everyone. While many think the fears surrounding GMOs and now GE technology are overblown, Lim and other environmentalists insist they are not here to stymie biotechnology research or Malaysia's advancement in these sciences. CRISPR-Cas9 is a revolutionary gene-editing tool that allows scientists to make precise changes to an organism's DNA. In plants, the process involves several steps, including causing a break or deletion of a DNA strand, and allowing the plant's natural repair mechanisms to fix the break. This will hopefully result in the desired genetic change. This method enables the development of crops with improved traits, such as disease resistance, drought tolerance and increased yield, without introducing foreign DNA. Despite the supposed benefits, Lim said the benefits may turn into a curse later. "We still need to assess these crops to check for unintended impacts. That's the bare minimum,' she said. GLOBAL GE or GMO While Malaysia grapples with regulatory uncertainties, other countries are moving forward with GE crops. India has released two genome-edited rice varieties aimed at enhancing yield and resilience against environmental stresses. These varieties were developed using genome editing techniques that allow for precise modifications in the plant's DNA without introducing foreign genes. In contrast, Mexico has taken a more cautious approach. In March 2025, the Mexican government amended its constitution to prohibit the use of genetically modified corn seeds, citing concerns over biosafety and the protection of native corn varieties. The ban just applies to GMOs, however, not GE foods. For Malaysia, the adoption of GE crops like Mardi's blight-resistant rice could play a crucial role in enhancing food security. However, without clear regulatory guidelines, these innovations may remain confined to research facilities. Malaysia has set the target of a rice self-sufficiency rate of 80 per cent by 2030, but without intervention, be it via technology or other methods, the nation will likely not meet its goal anytime soon as the world experiences shocks to the supply chain, one after another. Puteh, meanwhile, said she would be interested in trying out a GE crop that is resistant to blight. "But we need to have discussions first. It may not be suitable for our soil here or the costs may be high. But if it's blight-resistant, we are willing to try," she said. - BERNAMA
Free Malaysia Today
2 days ago
- General
- Free Malaysia Today
Malaysia's own ‘kacang goat' may hold key to food security
Small but resilient, 'kacang' or Katjang goats are the only breed native to Malaysia. (Bernama pic) REMBAU : In a wooden paddock on the edge of a sun-beaten field here, livestock farmer Kamaruzaman Budin approaches five goats huddled in the corner of their new pen. With black, brown or mixed coats, the goats – of which three are short-eared and lean – have a diminutive size compared with those in the neighbouring pens, some of whom are taller than the railings. Kamaruzaman, 67, better known as Kamal, points to a brown goat with a black line along its spine. Then he points to another, then another. 'Ha, this is 'kacang',' he tells Bernama. 'One, two, three – kacang.' He has just acquired these five goats from another farmer. The seller claimed all five were purebred Katjang, or 'kacang' – the only goat breed native to Malaysia. However, Kamal has already noticed that two of the five have non-Katjang traits, with long droopy ears. The others may be purebreds, but he won't be sure until Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (Mardi) scientists, who have been seeking and buying Katjang goats all over Malaysia, can verify their lineage via DNA testing. Nevertheless, Kamal considers himself lucky to have obtained them, as Katjang goats are becoming rare. 'The Katjang isn't big. And when it's not big, people aren't interested in raising it. They prefer imported breeds because they are big and their meat ratio is good,' he explains. 'But the good thing about the Katjang is that it is resilient and resistant to disease.' That resilience, long taken for granted, has become a matter of national concern. After decades of uncontrolled crossbreeding with imported breeds, the Katjang is facing extinction via genetic dilution. As Malaysia struggles with food insecurity, climate change, and increasing food import costs, the resilience of the Katjang may be the key to the solution. Scientists are racing to conserve the Katjang by employing traditional and new methods using DNA technology. Hardy goat Long before Malaysia imported refrigerated meats and had industrial farms, the Katjang was a familiar sight in villages. Farmers would let them forage on roadsides and in fields and forests. Livestock farmer Kamaruzaman Budin is waiting to see if all five of his newly acquired goats are purebred Katjang. (Bernama pic) Hardy and not fussy about what it ate or where it slept, the animal had many generations to evolve and develop a tolerance for Malaysia's heat and humidity, and against parasites and endemic diseases. 'The Katjang is indigenous for a reason. It's the best here,' said Dr Ainu Husna Suhaimi, principal research officer of advanced and reproductive technologies at Mardi. 'In Malaysia now, we are realising that our local animals are the most sustainable.' The Katjang's physical traits are distinct. Other than their small size, they have sleek black and/or dark brown coats, short and tapered upright ears, and straight and tapered upright horns. Adult males typically weigh under 30kg, far less than the imported Boer or Jamnapari goats, which can reach twice that size. Although the Katjang breed is very fertile, with twin births, its milk production is only enough for the kids. It is slower to grow to full size and is not very meaty. Because of these perceived disadvantages, the Katjang was gradually sidelined. 'At risk of extinction' Kamal remembers when he first started his farm in 1985, during which time he only raised Katjang goats. The focus slowly shifted to goats with higher meat yield; from 2004 onwards, Boer goats – with their impressive build and meat production – were imported from South Africa and Australia. However, it could not deal with Malaysia's climate, resulting in a 20% mortality rate, according to Mardi. 'If you talk to farmers now, what they want is survivability. Local is the most survivable and adaptable, so we know there is a demand for local breeds – but they are still small,' Ainu highlighted. To offset this, the government at the time encouraged farmers to crossbreed with the resilient Katjang. At first, this approach seemed like a win: hybrids grew faster and bigger and fetched higher prices. But the lack of a proper breeding programme caused the Katjang gene pool to become diluted over time. Any pure Katjang goats that remained were used again and again, causing inbreeding and resulting in smaller and unhealthy goats. Following a survey conducted by the veterinary services department (DVS) from 2001 to 2002, the Katjang was classified as being at risk of extinction, while the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) listed its status as unknown. Over two decades later, the Katjang's current numbers are unknown. Mardi has a herd of about 100 Katjang on its farm in Kluang, Johor, and its researchers are always on the search for more. Small goat, big potential Although the goat industry is small in Malaysia, there is a consistent market for it, especially among Muslims and Hindus. In 2023, the consumption of mutton, which includes goat and sheep meat, increased to 1.4kg per capita from 1kg the year prior, while Malaysia's self-sufficiency rate of the meat was at 8.7%, a drop from 10.7% in 2022. Dr Ainu Husna Suhaimi, head researcher of advanced and reproductive technologies at Mardi. (Bernama pic) Malaysia spent RM8.5 million importing live goats and RM18.62 million on live sheep in 2023, and RM772.4 million on fresh, frozen and processed mutton. Market analysts predict goat meat will become even more popular in the next decade, as more people will seek it for its leanness and other nutritional benefits. Malaysia's dependence on imports to meet food demand leaves it vulnerable to shocks to the supply chain, as the pandemic, the war in Ukraine and, recently, India-Pakistan tensions have shown. Meanwhile, local goat production is hampered by expensive feed, veterinary costs, and a high mortality rate. DVS researcher and geneticist Dr Ernie Muneerah Mohd Adnan believes that while the Katjang goat may not match imported breeds in terms of size or meat production, its adaptability to climate change could become critical for the future of Malaysia's livestock industry. 'Something in the middle' Today, the core of the Katjang rescue mission lies in a growing effort to locate and collect the DNA of pure Katjang goats. The project combines old-fashioned legwork and husbandry with modern reproductive methods and genetic science. Ainu's team has been fanning out across rural areas in peninsular Malaysia, visiting livestock farms and Orang Asli villages. When they spot an animal that looks promising – which is rare – they usually purchase the animals for their farm in Johor, collect samples, and sequence their genome for desirable genetic markers. Those with the desired traits will be used for selective breeding with other breeds, in hopes of producing bigger and meatier – as well as heat-tolerant and disease-resistant – Katjang hybrids. 'We decided we need to have something in the middle,' she explained. 'Now, we are developing our pure Katjang-Boer mix or Malaysianised Boer. For this, we need pure Katjang.' The selective crossbreeding programme utilises natural and artificial fertilisation methods, using semen or eggs stored in liquid nitrogen. Mardi prefers to use natural breeding as it tends to be more successful, with an 80% success rate, Ainu noted. But if this is not possible, then researchers will use artificial insemination or in-vitro fertilisation. The DVS also has a biobank of Katjang sperm samples. Having a ready supply of pure Katjang is necessary to refresh the genetic makeup of the Malaysianised Boer after several generations. It is an expensive and time-consuming process, but one that could safeguard the breed and the country's long-term food security. Mardi is developing a Malaysianised Boer by breeding the South African goat (above) with the local Katjang. (File pic) Despite the urgency, the Katjang conservation project faces daunting barriers. Researchers tell Bernama they have trouble getting funding or cooperation for conservation efforts because people, including farmers, don't understand the importance of saving local livestock breeds, not just wildlife. Without financial incentives or market demand for pure Katjang, most smallholders will not choose a smaller, slower-growing goat over a meatier import. 'Farmers often find it more profitable to raise imported or crossbred goats rather than purebred Katjang goats,' Ernie Muneerah commented. Some have floated the idea of subsidising farmers to not crossbreed their Katjang, and keeping a registry of farmers with pure Katjang that can be exchanged for breeding. Ultimately, stakeholders wish to fix the disconnect between scientists and farmers, and encourage farmers to use available resources such as Mardi and DVS to breed their livestock. Meanwhile, under the glare of the late afternoon sun in Rembau, Kamal pours a bucket of feed into a blue trough. The goats shuffle over, nudging each other gently. He watches them for a moment, thoughtful. 'If we look at it in terms of disease, they are really easy to raise, with not many health issues. When it comes to changes, whether climate or something else, I think the Katjang goat will definitely survive,' he concludes.
New Straits Times
02-06-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
1.5 tonnes of African catfish caught in Maeps lake fishing competition
SERDANG: A total of 1.5 tonnes of African catfish were successfully caught during a fishing competition at Maeps Lake last Saturday. Selangor Fisheries Department director Noraisyah Abu Bakar said the event organisers had prepared containers for participants to store the invasive species, particularly African catfish, for weighing and counting purposes. "A total of 928 catfish were caught, with a combined weight of 1,100kg as of 1.30pm, when the competition ended. "With approval from the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (Mardi), the organisers continued the fishing activity under the committee's supervision, before being informed that an additional 400kg of African catfish had been landed," she said. She said the department was informed that unofficial fishing activity would be allowed at the lake until today and is open to visitors of the ShowTech 2025 programme. Mardi is also expected to implement further mitigation measures, as discussed with the department. Earlier, it was reported that some 2,000kg of African catfish, estimated at 1,300 fish averaging 1.5kg each, were believed to have been released into Maeps Lake last Thursday. Following public complaints, the Fisheries Department conducted a site visit last Friday and held an engagement session on the matter. The catfish were released by the organisers in conjunction with the ShowTech 2025 programme organised by Mardi, without prior notification or advisory consultation with the State Fisheries Office.
Free Malaysia Today
31-05-2025
- General
- Free Malaysia Today
New rules coming after 2 tonnes of African catfish released into lake
The fisheries department said about 1,300 African catfish, weighing about 1.5kg each, were released into the Serdang agro exposition lake. (Facebook pic) KUALA LUMPUR : New regulations are to be drafted to control the release of fish, especially invasive species, into public waters. The fisheries department announced the move today following complaints about the release of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) into the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang lake in conjunction with a fishing competition organised by the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (Mardi). The fisheries department said several mitigation measures were agreed upon after a site visit and discussions with relevant officials. 'The fishing competition's secretariat will install additional hapa nets, provide bins to collect African catfish caught during the competition, and disseminate awareness material while carrying out fishing activities throughout the programme. 'Mardi will ensure compliance with the installation of nets, open the lake to controlled fishing activities, and coordinate the inventory and disposal of alien fish after the programme concludes,' the fisheries department said. It said about 1,300 African catfish, weighing about 1.5kg each or a total of two tonnes were released into the lake on May 29, without any notification or request for advisory services from the Selangor fisheries office. The department said the public should seek technical advice from the state fisheries office before carrying out any fish release activities into public waters.
New Straits Times
31-05-2025
- General
- New Straits Times
New regulations to control release of invasive fish species being drawn up
KUALA LUMPUR: The Fisheries Department will draft new regulations to strengthen control activities of fish release into public waters. It announced the move today following complaints regarding the release of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) into Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS) Lake. The fish were released in conjunction with a fishing competition organised by the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (Mardi) for the Showtech 2025 programme. According to the statement, after a site visit and engagement session involving department representatives, Mardi and the organising company yesterday, several mitigation measures were agreed upon. "The fishing competition's secretariat will install additional hapa nets, provide bins to collect African catfish caught during the competition, and disseminate awareness material while carrying out fishing activities throughout the programme. "Mardi will ensure compliance with the installation of nets, open the lake to controlled fishing activities, and coordinate the inventory and disposal of alien fish after the programme concludes. "The Fisheries Department will also support this effort through the provision of awareness materials and related technical advisory services," the statement said. Regarding the release of the African catfish, the department said that investigations found that 2,000kg of the fish species, estimated at 1,300 fish with an average weight of 1.5kg each, were released into the lake on May 29. This was done without any notification or request for advisory services from the Selangor Fisheries office. The statement advised all parties to always seek technical advice from the state Fisheries office before carrying out any fish release activities into public waters. This is to avoid negative whiplash on the environment and the country's natural resources as an invasive species can eliminate native fish species. According to the department, the move is also to ensure that actions taken are in line with the principles of environmental sustainability, and do not pose a risk of invasive species to the local water ecosystem.
