With droughts and heavy rainfall disrupting agriculture, Malaysia’s slow uptake of biotech crops as a solution is worrying, writes science communicator Saarani Vengadesen.
AS ONE OF Southeast Asia’s agricultural powerhouses, Malaysia faces a growing challenge: how to sustain its agricultural output while protecting the environment.
With climate change affecting rainfall patterns, rising temperatures, and increasing pest resistance, traditional farming practices are struggling to meet the demands of both farmers and the planet.
(Feature image: Food security needs to be bolstered with all the means available | Photo by Lee Kwai Han)
To tackle these issues, Malaysia must seriously consider adopting biotech crops, which offer a promising solution to preserve both the environment and agricultural productivity.
Biotech crops are genetically modified (GM) and gene edited (GE) crops, developed using modern biotechnology to exhibit specific traits like drought resistance, pest resistance, and herbicide tolerance on a molecular level.
They have the potential to adapt to the impacts of climate change and mitigate environmental issues in Malaysia.
When water dries up
For example, drought-resistant seeds developed through modern biotechnology enable crops to withstand periods of low water availability.
Although Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI) has developed drought resistant seeds for paddy cultivation, they were developed using cross-breeding.
While these methods have been effective, they are limited by the natural genetic diversity of plants and require years of iterative breeding to achieve desired traits.
Precision tech
In contrast, modern molecular tools such as GM and GE allow precise manipulation of genes associated with drought tolerance, enabling faster and more efficient development of resilient crop varieties.
Thus, it time for Malaysia to consider adopting modern biotechnology tools for the seeds to be climate resilient. In addition, from an environmental perspective, biotech crops have the potential to reduce usage of chemical pesticides and encourage no-till farming to protect soil fertility.
Globally, from 1996 – 2020, pesticide application was reduced by 748.6 million kg thanks to the use of biotech crops, according to non-profit, the International Service for The Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications (ISAAA). This decreased environmental impact from herbicide and insecticide use by 17.3%.
The crops that are developed to reduce usage of chemical pesticides are called Bt crops. ‘Bt’ refers to a soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis, which has a gene that can produce a protein that is toxic to certain pests.
Thus, it acts as a natural insecticide once inserted into these crops, allowing them to defend themselves from harmful pests, and therefore reducing the need for widespread pesticide use.
Reducing runoff
Fewer pesticides mean less harmful runoff into nearby rivers and streams, less risk to beneficial insects (like bees and ladybugs), and a healthier overall ecosystem.
This is crucial for Malaysia because our growing population has resulted in increased production of local vegetables as well as pesticide usage, according to a 2023 study in the Internal Food Research Journal.
The study also noted that in 2021, approximately 45,670 tonnes of pesticides were used in Malaysia for agricultural purposes, an increase from around 36,000 tonnes the year before.
Moreover, illegal pesticides is an issue. In July 2024, the Malaysian CropLife & Public Health Association (MCPA), which represents the plant science and public health sectors, issued a strong call for action to combat the growing problem of illegal pesticides in the country.
The other common practice in agriculture that has an impact on the environment is soil tilling. It is a technique to control weeds but it lowers soil fertility and causes erosion. Thus, to control weeds and protect the soil, herbicide is still widely used.
Herbicide-tolerant (HT) crops were developed to support no-till farming, where the soil remains undisturbed, helping to mitigate agriculture’s impact on the climate. Leaving soil untilled enhances carbon sequestration by preserving the soil ecosystem.
Because it minimises disruption, plant roots can grow deeper and incorporate carbon-rich organic matter into the soil. This reduces carbon dioxide emissions caused by tillage, which disturbs soil structure and microbial activity.
Soil integrity
By protecting existing organic matter and promoting root growth, no-till practices help the soil retain more carbon.
Malaysia, with its nutrient-rich tropical soils, can benefit significantly from no-till farming. These soils store large amounts of carbon due to their high organic matter content, abundant rainfall, and warm temperatures.
However, they are also more prone to carbon release when disturbed, as high microbial activity accelerates decomposition.
The Malaysian livestock feed industry actually shows the lead as a significant importer of biotech products. As of September 2023, 57 products derived from modern biotechnology have been officially approved for import and market release for the feed industry.
But there is a downside to this. According to 2023 research by Khazanah Research Institute, Malaysia is heavy reliant on corn imports. Nearly 100% come from Argentina, Brazil, and India.
Any disruption to trade with these countries could severely affect Malaysia’s corn-dependent food supply chain.
Corn estates
One solution is to plant corn on a large scale. Bt corn is especially beneficial to food security because of its tolerance to current and future climate impacts such as drought and floods.
Yet plant biotechnology research in Malaysia remains minimal, as highlighted in a 2023 report by the Foreign Agricultural Service of the US Department of Agriculture.
Most projects are still unfinished, and there is still no commercial production of crops developed from modern biotechnology tools to date.
Lagging behind
In contrast, neighbouring countries like the Philippines, Indonesia, and Thailand have made substantial strides in integrating modern biotechnology into their agricultural practices.
The Philippines was the first Southeast Asian country to approve Bt corn as long ago as 2002. It has since expanded the planting of GM crops to others like Bt eggplant.
Similarly, Bangladesh commercialised Bt brinjal in 2014, to combat the damaging fruit and shoot borer pest.
Indonesia is carrying out confined trials with late blight resistant Granola potato variety. Late blight is a devastating disease that attacks potatoes. Last year, Thailand became the 25th country to formally approve GE crops.
Resilient agriculture
As Malaysia’s agricultural sector grapples with challenges like climate change, pesticide resistance, and the need for sustainable farming practices, biotech crops offer a viable solution.
These crops can boost productivity, reduce chemical pesticide use, conserve water, and enhance land sustainability.
In a world where every inch of arable land counts, biotech crops offer an opportunity to feed more people with fewer resources—helping both farmers and the planet thrive.
Saarani Vengadesen is a PhD candidate in biotechnology regulations, specialising in biotech crops, at the Faculty of Law, Universiti Malaya.
[Edited by SL Wong]
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Macaranga.
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