KUCHING: The Borneo state of Sarawak is looking across the South China Sea to lend more “sting” to its stingless bee industry.
The popularity of honey from stingless bee, or kelulut, has since recent decades gained traction globally, as it is believed that honey from kelulut contains several health benefits.
The state’s Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said Sarawak is looking forward to work with Chinese expertise to improve its biotechnology initiatives which in turn will uplift its agriculture and food production sectors.
“For a start, we are keen to work with Chinese researchers on developing the state’s stingless bee industry which is in its infancy stage,” said Uggah after a meeting with Yunnan Agriculture University (YAU) President Prof Sheng Jun. [ihc-hide-content ihc_mb_type=”show” ihc_mb_who=”2,3″ ihc_mb_template=”1″ ]
Uggah, who is also the Minister of Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development said the stingless bee industry has potential to help famers to diversify and increase their income.
“Kelulut honey industry is something new to us and we see a huge potential in it. So, we are very interested to follow through and collaborate with YAU.
“This collaboration will also allow us to penetrate the very big China market,” he added.
Also present were China’s Consul-General to Sarawak, Cheng Guang Zhong, and his entourage.
Uggah, said YAU had over 70 years of teaching and research experience in agricultural science and technology among others.
Apart from looking at possible collaborations with YAU on biotechnology, the Sarawak government was also keen on big data sharing in the agriculture sector, he said.
“We are in the process of transforming the sector and embarking on modern farming by using high technology,” Uggah said.
He also expressed hope to send a delegation to visit the university to find out more about its biotechnology research as well as its big data processing in the agriculture sector.
Meanwhile, Sheng said the YAU, which has 20 different laboratories, was very interested in developing the kelulut honey industry in the state.
“With our expertise and experience, we are looking at enhancing its development. We want to develop high-end food products, bio-pharmaceutical products and other things from the honey,” he said.
The university would also look into identifying the plants and flowers that attracted the stingless bee, which could then be cultivated by the farmers, said Sheng.
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