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Oyster farm off the coast of Malaysia

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The Malaysian state of Melaka has created a biotechnology institute in a bid to become a key player in the global biotechnology and bioinformatics market.

Chief minister Mohd Ali Rustam said the state would focus on applying biotechnology to farming and seafood farming, and would later concentrate on food production and animal husbandry.

He added that the Melaka Biotechnology Institute would also produce plant extracts to use in cosmetics, drugs and food supplements.

Another Malaysian state, Sabah, has drawn up a ten-year action plan describing policies and strategies for developing biotechnology in the state.

Sabah's chief minister Musa Aman said biotechnology would accelerate the state's transition to a 'bio-economy' exporting value-added products instead of raw or semi-processed ones.

The state government plans to encourage the private sector to participate in commercialising innovations and provide support by developing the necessary infrastructure such as permanent food production zones, agro-technology parks and agro-industrial clusters.