Genes controlling mycorrhizal colonisation discovered in soybean
Reading Time: 2 minutesLIKE most plants, soybeans pair up with soil fungi in a symbiotic mycorrhizal relationship. In exchange for a bit of sugar, the fungus acts as an extension of the root system to pull in more phosphorus, nitrogen, micronutrients, and water than the plant could on its own. Mycorrhizal fungi occur naturally in soil and are […]
New tomato variety could change urban farming and cultivation
Reading Time: 2 minutesGENE-EDITED tomato plants that can be grown in small areas and potentially even in outer space have been developed by scientists at the New York-based Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, according to a release. These new “urban agriculture tomatoes” grow in compact bunches instead of on long vines and can be harvested in a shorter period […]
M’sian PhD students develop alternative plastic
Reading Time: 2 minutesA TEAM of Malaysian PhD students has won a global engineering challenge with a sustainable approach to packing dried food products. The engineers from the University of Southampton Malaysia, University of Malaya and Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP) have developed a prototype for dissolvable food blocks that would significantly reduce the amount of single-use plastic supermarket […]
Five researchers for international stint
Reading Time: 2 minutesFIVE EXCEPTIONAL young Malaysian researchers were awarded the prestigious Merdeka Award Grant for International Attachment 2019 by Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah, Royal Patron of the Merdeka Award Trust. Dr Mohd Azri Ab Rani, 35; Juliana Ooi Sue May, 34; Dr Yanny Marliana Baba Ismail, 33; Feng Ying Xing, 29 and Chrishen Robert Gomez, 25 are […]
Kenya gives nod for Bt cotton
Reading Time: < 1 minuteTHE Kenyan Cabinet, chaired by President Uhuru Kenyatta, has approved the commercial planting of Bt cotton after the 5-year field trials showed positive results. The biotech crop is expected to increase the cotton production of Kenyan farmers and thus boost the manufacturing pillar of the Big 4 Agenda where it is stated that Kenya aims […]
Developing market oriented rice hybrids
Reading Time: 2 minutesRECENT research and technological advancements have significantly improved the quality and viability of hybrid rice. Still, the lack of awareness among value chain actors on these improvements threatens to impede its full potential as a climate resilient alternative to traditional varieties. Characteristics like poor grain quality, lower head rice recovery percentage, chalkiness, high insect, pest, […]
Duopharma Biotech Berhad emerges with new logo
Reading Time: 2 minutesBY JAYASYALINY JAYARAJ KUALA LUMPUR: Duopharma Biotech Berhad, a leading Malaysian pharmaceutical and trading company unveiled its new logo and name at a rebranding event held here on Dec 18. Duopharma was formerly a part of the Chemical Company of Malaysia Berhad (CCMB) and is largely owned by Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB). The launch was […]
Filipinos are first!
Reading Time: 3 minutesBY ADRIAN DUBOCK, PETER BEYER & INGO POTRYKUS IN a victory for science-based regulatory decision-making, the Government of the Philippinesh as, on Dec 10 authorised the direct use of GR2E Golden Rice in food, feed,and for processing. The regulatory data were submitted by the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) and the International Rice Research Institute […]
Fermentation technology for ‘nicer’ coconut water
Reading Time: 2 minutesBY ASMAHANIM AMIR A RESEARCH TEAM from the National University of Malaysia (UKM) has successfully developed a cutting edge technology which removes turbudity in matured coconut water. Known for its cloudy and poor quality, turbid coconut water is not marketable as a beverage. The research team applied fermentation method to remove turbidity and made the […]
Three inspiring Malaysian women scientist awarded L’OréalUNESCO Fellowship
Reading Time: 3 minutesTHE L’ORÉAL FOUNDATION, is celebrating the achievements of three distinguished women scientists in Malaysia by awarding them its prestigious L’Oréal UNESCO Fellowship for Women in Science (FWIS). In recognition of their groundbreaking research efforts, the For Women in Science also award these outstanding women with RM30,000 grant money to help fund their projects. The projects, […]