SEMENGOH, SARAWAK: Mitsubishi Corporation (MC) and the Sarawak Biodiversity Centre (SBC) will move into the next phase of a research collaboration which started in year 2012. The collaboration between MC and SBC has reached Phase 3 (Demonstration and Validation of Commercially Viable Microalgal Biomass Production Technologies) which will implement an outdoor facility to demonstrate and validate commercially viable microalgal biomass production technologies with the technical assistance of a biotechnology company from Japan, the CHITOSE Group.
The collaboration will devise new design in cultivation technology based on long term semi-continuous operation and generate knowhow[ihc-hide-content ihc_mb_type=”show” ihc_mb_who=”2,3,5″ ihc_mb_template=”1″ ] to upscale production of indigenous algal strains to reach market size. Phase 3 is expected to extend until 2018.
The collaboration between MC and SBC is a joint effort towards the commercialisation of microalgae research that combines industrial biotechnology and unique bio-resources from Sarawak to provide an answer to the global demand for sustainable feedstock from renewable sources.
This collaboration specifically aims to develop a large-scale outdoor microalgae cultivation system which consists of 1,000 m2 closed photobioreactors to inform the engineering and construction of a larger commercial facility in Sarawak.
Microalgae are a sustainable feedstock for aquaculture and have high value bio-chemicals such as vitamins and antioxidants. It is a vital food source, not only for fish but also shellfish, abalone and crustaceans.
The high value bio-chemicals contained in various algae strains can be harnessed to supply growing consumer demands for health supplements.
The collaboration between MC and SBC in the previous phases established a collection of 500 microalgae strains isolated locally from various locations in Sarawak including river, lake, brackish and coastal waters.
Laboratory research at SBC in Semengoh identified several strains of microalgae which are robust and have desired bio-chemical contents suitable as supplements.
Chief Minister of Sarawak, Datuk Amar Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari bin Tun Datuk Abang Haji Openg witnessed the official exchange of agreement documents on April 5 during his visit to the Sarawak Biodiversity Centre.
The agreement documents were exchanged between Mr Junji Nakanishi, Deputy General Manager of New Business Development Office, Energy Business Group CEO Office, Tokyo, on behalf of Mitsubishi Corporation, and YB Tan Sri Datuk Amar Haji Mohamad Morshidi bin Abdul Ghani, Sarawak State Secretary, who is also Chairman of Sarawak Biodiversity Council.
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