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New Straits Times
2 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Mardi unveils 2 new rice varieties to boost yields, fight weedy rice problem
PASIR SALAK: The Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (Mardi) today introduced two new rice varieties, MR CL3 and MR CL4, to tackle the persistent problem of weedy rice (padi angin) in the country. Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said the new varieties are the result of a strategic collaboration between Mardi and German chemical company BASF, a partnership that began two decades ago. Mohamad said MR CL3 and MR CL4 offer several advantages, including early maturity, requiring only 99 days to harvest, and a high yield potential of over seven tonnes per hectare. "Both varieties also show resistance to leaf blast and panicle blast diseases," he said in his speech at the launch of the new Clearfield rice varieties CL3 and CL4 at the Felcra Seberang Perak today. Also present were the ministry's secretary-general Datuk Seri Isham Ishak, Mardi board chairman Dr Azman Ismail and state Rural Development, Plantation, Agriculture and Food Industry Committee chairman Datuk Mohd Zolkafly Harun. He added that this innovation not only meets current agricultural challenges but also serves as a model for public-private collaboration in strengthening the national rice and padi industry. "The commercialisation of these varieties will follow the Clearfield Production System, which includes the rice varieties, the specialised herbicide 'Trek', and detailed technology usage guidelines. "These three components are integrated to ensure the sustainability of the technology and to address the weedy rice issue effectively," he said. At a press conference later, Mohamad said that plant diseases are constantly evolving, and currently, Malaysia's padi fields are significantly affected by weedy rice. "These plants appear healthy and robust, but as they near maturity, they fail to develop filled grains. The plants remain upright instead of bending, a sign that the panicles are empty and weak. "There is a need for technology that helps maintain plant strength and resilience, like the healthy padi we see growing next to us here. "This is the result of research between Mardi and BASF, and we hope it will help farmers increase their yields in the long run," he said. Meanwhile, Azman in his speech said weedy rice is one of the main challenges faced by local rice farmers. He said that the presence of weedy rice can lead to severe yield losses ranging from 20 per cent to 80 per cent, which in turn reduces farmers' income and negatively impacts the country's overall rice production. "The main strength of MR CL3 and MR CL4 lies in their tolerance to herbicides from the Imidazolinone group. "These varieties are developed from a hybrid of local strains — MR 253 and MR 220CL2 — which are resistant to the herbicide. "This enables selective and effective control of weedy rice without affecting the growth of MR CL3 and MR CL4," he said. On the commercial front, Azman said the two new varieties will be made available under the Clearfield Production System (CPS), which includes three core components: the rice seed variety, the herbicide, and the technology application guidelines. "Clearfield seeds will be sold only as part of a complete package including the Trek herbicide to ensure the proper and effective implementation of the system," he said. He also expressed hope that all stakeholders, particularly seed producers and farmers, would fully understand and adhere to the system's guidelines. "Compliance is key to ensuring the long-term sustainability of this technology and its continued success in combating weedy rice," he added.
Straits Times
27-06-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Malaysia's Musang King may reign supreme but a new wave of durian contenders is emerging
The Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute has found that there is a growing appetite for a wider range of flavours among durian enthusiasts. PHOTO: BT FILE Malaysia's Musang King may reign supreme but a new wave of durian contenders is emerging PETALING JAYA - In the world of durians, Malaysia's Musang King may reign supreme but a new wave of contenders is emerging. From the creamy Black Thorn and Red Prawn to the sweet Hajah Hasmah, the Malaysian government is championing lesser-known premium varieties to capture growing international demand. Other established types like Sultan and Tekka are also seeing interest, offering the fruit at a more accessible price and broadening Malaysia's footprint in the global durian market. Malaysia's Agriculture Department director-general, Dauk Nor Sam Alwi said Musang King and Bukit Merah are the main varieties recommended for export due to their rich, creamy texture and strong flavour but efforts are under way to highlight other premium types such as Black Thorn, Red Prawn and Hajah Hasmah. 'These varieties are being evaluated for future certification and export readiness, based on their potential in terms of taste, texture, shelf life and suitability for long-distance shipping,' she told The Star. Datuk Nor Sam said that Chinese nationals, in particular, are willing to pay premium prices for these varieties. As such, she said the department is working towards registering durian varieties grown in Malaysia, conduct agronomic assessments and ensure compliance with the phytosanitary requirements of importing countries. 'This includes pest disinfestation methods such as vapour heat treatment, traceability systems and farm export certification schemes,' she said. These efforts, she said, were in line with the department's goal of diversifying Malaysia's durian varieties in the global market, strengthening the competitiveness of the national durian industry and maximising its export value. The Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (Mardi) has found that there is a growing appetite for a wider range of flavours among durian enthusiasts. 'Consumers are becoming more adventurous. They are seeking out unique taste profiles. We are also seeing renewed interest in older, established clones such as D24 and Tekka, which are more affordable and offer classic durian characteristics,' it said in a statement. Mardi said regional favourites and specific kampung durians with distinctive traits are gaining popularity, too. On the export front, Mardi said it is focusing on developing new hybrids for domestic and global markets. Its MDUR series (a hybrid durian clone developed by Mardi), in particular, has shown promise. 'One of the main highlights is MDUR 88 (D190), a hybrid of D10 and D24. It is golden yellow, slightly sticky and creamy with a flavour that many compare favourably to Musang King.' In view of its quality, Mardi said the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry is promoting MDUR 88 for export. 'MDUR 88 has recently been rebranded as 'MARDI Super 88' (MS88),' it said. Mardi is also working on other hybrids, such as MDUR 78 (D188) and MDUR 79 (D189), which offer improved yields and greater resistance to diseases like root borers and stem canker. The institute also highlighted its broader breeding initiatives, noting that its second hybridisation programme, launched in the late 1980s, involved crosses between 10 different varieties. Several promising hybrids from this programme are now in the final stages of assessment and are expected to be introduced under the 13th Malaysia Plan. Mardi's third set of hybrids is undergoing evaluation and assessment. The institute is optimistic about the potential of these new hybrids. 'While Musang King and Black Thorn continue to set the benchmark in terms of market presence and price, we believe that our own developed hybrids, particularly MDUR 88, have the characteristics and quality to compete in the international market,' it said. Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama) director-general Abdul Rashid Bahri said that in addition to Musang King, premium varieties including D24, Black Thorn, IOI and D9 have been sent for assessments to ensure they meet phytosanitary and quality compliance for targeted export markets like China. 'Fama is also working to expand market access beyond China and Hong Kong to countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada, the United Arab Emirates, Australia and the Netherlands,' he said. Mr Rashid said that strategic initiatives include participation in trade fairs, digital marketplace partnerships, in-store promotions and collaborative awareness programmes with the Malaysian embassies. 'To strengthen Malaysia's competitive edge and credibility in premium markets, the ministry is also enhancing the national branding of agricultural produce through Malaysia's Best, a certification that assures quality and safety for both domestic and international standards,' he said. In 2023, Malaysia exported 54,374 tonnes of durians, valued at RM1.51 billion (S$454 billion), with China accounting for more than 45.7 per cent of the total export. Mr Rashid said the volume is expected to increase following China's approval for fresh durian imports. 'Fama will continue to work with industry stakeholders to monitor market trends, optimise logistics, and scale up capacity to meet growing international demand,' he said. Malaysia's durian cultivation area has been steadily expanding in recent years, with data from the Agriculture Department showing an increase from 70,286ha in 2019 to a projected 92,129ha in 2024. Durian production followed suit, rising from 390,635 tonnes in 2020 to a projected 568,852 tonnes this year, despite some fluctuations due to weather and cost challenges. The increase has been driven largely by global demand especially for premium varieties. THE STAR/ ASIA NEWS NETWORK Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Star
20-06-2025
- Health
- The Star
Green light hoped for gene-edited rice
Since 2021, several scientists have been developing new genetically edited rice varieties with targeted traits, such as resistance to disease and tolerance to climate challenges like extreme heat and drought. Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (Mardi) principal research officer Dr Zulkifli Ahmad Seman said they now had a potential gene-edited (GE) padi line currently undergoing the screening phase. He said their research so far had shown that blight would only affect 11% of the leaves of GE padi. Laid side by side in a research glasshouse at Mardi in Serdang, Selangor, the two padi leaves look alike at first glance. But one leaf is almost all yellow, a 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. Zulkifli showing a photo of the padi leaves that are disease-resistant. 'So with the host, the protein (blight) can't attach because of where we have mutated it. 'When it cannot attach, that is where it will stop,' he told Bernama at Mardi headquarters. 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 another challenge: Malaysia's regulatory grey zone. Grey zone Malaysia is one of Asia's highest per capita consumers of rice, but it does not grow enough padi. In 2023, per capita consumption was 76.7kg per year, according to Agriculture and Food Security Ministry. The rice production numbers have decreased from 2022, showing a 4.7% decrease 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% of local demand, leaving the country vulnerable to price shocks and supply disruptions. For padi 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% of our padi,' she said over the phone. Zulkifli's research could save Puteh's 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. Unlike GMOs, GE crops do not contain foreign DNA. 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 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 see the light of day? Yellow fields Puteh remembers the season her padi fields turned yellow. Managing her own padi field for the past 15 years, she has seen plenty of bad years. She still remembers when the blight wiped out almost all of her income in 2019. 'I lost one tonne of padi that season,' said Puteh. She had hoped the ensuing seasons would be better but her yields either improved only marginally or got worse. In recent years, extreme temperatures and sudden floods have become more common. On top of that, blight is still there. Bacterial blight, caused by Xanthomonas oryzae, spreads quickly in flooded padi fields and thrives in warm, humid environments like Malaysia's. It browns padi 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. He said Malaysia should not just look at technology, it should also look at encouraging padi 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. The GE padi stands as a potential solution. Until they get more information, these researchers are operating under the assumption that their GE rice will not be subject to the same approval process that stymied past biotech efforts involving GMO products. But still, the fear is there. The scientists remember 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 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. Mohd Waznul says the benefits of growing the new GE variety outweighs any potential risks. He also said the benefits outweighed any potential risks. 'We hope this rice that we produce can somehow help our (scientists) to produce new varieties because there are many issues, like climate change and new emerging pests,' he said. But many see GE foods and GMOs as the same. Third World Network biosafety programme coordinator Lim Li Ching was prepared to start a 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 in an online interview from her home in the UK. While CRISPR technology might work within a plant's own genome, she warned that it could bypass the slow, regulated nature of evolutionary change – introducing traits or gene interactions that might not have natural precedents. She added that even seemingly minor edits could cause unintended effects at molecular level. CRISPR-Cas9 is a 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 method enables the development of crops with improved traits, such as disease resistance, drought tolerance, and increased yield. 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. In contrast, Mexico has taken a more cautious approach. In March, 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% by 2030, but without intervention, be it via technology or other methods, the nation will likely not meet its goal anytime soon.
Sinar Daily
08-06-2025
- 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
Barnama
06-06-2025
- Health
- Barnama
The Future In A Grain: Malaysia's Bet On Gene-edited Rice
T he 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 told Bernama in the meeting room 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 percent 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. 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 percent 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 percent 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 percent 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 Organization (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 Adly 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 to Bernama 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 they 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. Food security expert at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Assoc Prof Saiful Irwan Zubairi told Bernama that events since 2020 have shown that food supply chains are vulnerable to shocks. "So how is Malaysia's preparedness? Food wise? Food wise, I would say not so good in terms of preparedness of any (additional) crisis," he said. Malaysia has set the target of a rice self-sufficiency rate of 80 percent by 2030, but without intervention, be it via technology or other methods, the nation will likely not meet its goal anytime soon. 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.
