Established | 1997 |
---|---|
Mission | To Decode Biodiversity for the Benefit of Sarawak [1] |
Focus | Traditional knowledge documentation Bioprospecting Bioinformatics [2] |
Chair | Jaul Samion [3] |
Chief Executive Officer | Yeo Tiong Chia [4] |
Owner | Sarawak state government |
Location | KM 20, Jalan Puncak Borneo , Kuching , Sarawak , Malaysia |
Coordinates | 1°23′33″N110°19′23″E / 1.39250°N 110.32306°E |
Website | https://www.sbc.org.my/ |
Sarawak Biodiversity Centre is a statutory body that was set up by the government of Sarawak in 1997 for the regulation of access and collection of biological resources for research or commercial purposes. In 2004, the centre was relieved of its regulatory role and started to get involved in biotechnology-based research on the biological resources in the state.
Sarawak Biodiversity Centre (SBC) was established in 1997 following the enactment of the Sarawak Biodiversity Centre Ordinance by the Sarawak state government for conservation, utilization, protection and sustainable development of biodiversity in the state. This was followed by the enactment of Sarawak Biodiversity Regulations in 1998. In December 2003, the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly passed the Sarawak Biodiversity Centre (Amendment) Ordinance 2003. The state assembly also revised the Sarawak Biodiversity Regulations in 2004. Following these revisions, Sarawak Biodiversity Centre was relieved of its previous role and assumed a new role of research and development of the state biological resources and documentation of indigenous knowledge of utilising biological resources. [5] In 2017, SBC hosted BioBorneo and Bioeconomy Day. [6] [7]
SBC collaborated with Mitsubishi Corporation on cultivating indigenous algae since 2012. [8] In 2019, SBC and Mitsubishi launched one of the largest algae cultivation facility in Southeast Asia. It is expected to produce 60 tonnes of dried algae biomass per hectare per year. [9]
This programme exists to prevent the loss of traditional knowledge in indigenous communities because knowledge is passed to the next generations only through oral tradition. This programme is carried out through capacity-building workshops where local communities are trained with documentation techniques as well as growing and management of useful indigenous plants. As of 9 November 2020, a total of 6,420 plants were documented with 1,713 species of plants identified. [10]
This programme is supported by seven laboratories with the aim to screen for anti-cancer, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-protease compounds from its natural products library. This programme also isolates and sequences genes from useful microbes that have medicinal and industrial applications. This programme is also developing plant tissue culture capabilities for mass propagations and genetic transformation of plants. [11]
This programme aims to provide an integrated database storage and maintenance system on biological resources in the state and traditional knowledge on growing indigenous plants. [12]
This programme collects, propagates and plants the indigenous flora of Sarawak that are used by the indigenous communities in the state. This garden provides raw plant materials for research and development. This garden is also open for public education and tours. [13]
Through seminars, workshops, conferences, forums, public lectures, dialogue sessions, and exhibitions, this programme aims to disseminate accurate information on biodiversity and biotechnology to the general public, policymakers, government officials, members of academia, researchers, industry representatives and the media. [14]
At the plant preparation area, all plants will undergo washing, sorting, cutting, drying, and grinding to become ground plant samples. The samples are then extracted by using maceration solvent extraction, maceration aqueous extraction, liquid-liquid partition, and reflux extraction. The plant extracts are then deposited into the natural products library. [15]
This laboratory isolates actinomycetes and fungi from plants and soil to be stored in natural products library for their antimicrobial activity testing [16]
This laboratory aims to screen for anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory compounds from plants, actinomycetes, and fungi using molecular genetics and in vitro cell lines screening. [17]
This laboratory aims to cultivate targeted plants on a massive scale for research and development and domestication. [18]
Extracts obtained from the extraction laboratory and microbiology laboratory are sent here for isolation and purification using various chromatographic techniques. [19]
It features biological resources databases, a natural product library, and traditional knowledge databases. [20]
This laboratory focus on extraction of essential oils and indigenous oils, formulation of personal care products, and quality analyses of the developed products. [21]
In 2002, the centre filed a patent for two cyclopentabenzofuran compounds similar to silvestrol extracted from Aglaia species that had shown anti-cancer activities in THP-1 cell line and A549 cell lines. [22] [23] This is followed by the screening of more Aglaia samples which led to compounds that are active against MCF-7 cell line and NCI-60 cell line in 2008. [24]
In 2006, the centre started a project called "Development of Medicinal and Aromatic Oils from Sarawak's Indigenous Plants". [25] From indigenous traditional knowledge documentation programme, Litsea cubeba tree found at Bario, Lawas, and Padawan municipality was used for essential oil extraction with the support from Global Environment Facility (GEF) grant and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). [26] The essential oil has a crisp and citrus lemony scent. [27] Essential oil from the plant not only shows anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory properties, it is also able to repel insects. [26] In 2011, the Sarawak Litsea tree was registered under geographical indication while the essential oil extract was registered under the trademark Litsara. [22] In 2017, Sarawak Biodiversity Centre cooperate with Interhill Group to sell Litsara products in Pullman hotels at Kuching and Miri. [28] Over time, a range of products such as freshener, soap, shampoo, and handwash are produced from the essential oil extract. [29] [27]
In 2007, Adenosma nelsonioides (known as Bunga Ta'ang by the Bidayuh community) was documented by Sarawak Biodiversity Centre at Padawan area. [30] In 2014, Adenosma essential oil volatile vapour was found to have antifungal activity against Ganoderma boninense , a fungus that is harmful to oil palms. [31] Its essential oil has a woody and herbal scent [25] which is described by perfumers as "spicy". [32] The oil also has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. [32] In 2015, the plant was filed for geographical indication as Sarawak Adenosma and the essential oil derived from it was trademarked as Adenosara. [22] In October 2020, benefit sharing agreement was signed between Sarawak Biodiversity Centre and local Bidayuh and Iban communities. [32]
In 2016, the centre was involved in research regarding the role of laccase enzymes in cotton plant fibre development. [33]
Sarawak is a state of Malaysia. The largest among the 13 states, with an area almost equal to that of Malaya, Sarawak is located in northwest Borneo Island, and is bordered by the Malaysian state of Sabah to the northeast, Kalimantan to the south, and Brunei in the north. The capital city, Kuching, is the largest city in Sarawak, the economic centre of the state, and the seat of the Sarawak state government. Other cities and towns in Sarawak include Miri, Sibu, and Bintulu. As of the 2020 Malaysia census, the population of Sarawak was 2.453 million. Sarawak has an equatorial climate with tropical rainforests and abundant animal and plant species. It has several prominent cave systems at Gunung Mulu National Park. Rajang River is the longest river in Malaysia; Bakun Dam, one of the largest dams in Southeast Asia, is located on one of its tributaries, the Balui River. Mount Murud is the highest point in the state. Sarawak is the only state of Malaysia with a Christian majority.
Sabah is a state of Malaysia located on the northern portion of Borneo, in the region of East Malaysia. Sabah has land borders with the Malaysian state of Sarawak to the southwest and Indonesia's North Kalimantan province to the south. The Federal Territory of Labuan is an island just off Sabah's west coast. Sabah shares maritime borders with Vietnam to the west and the Philippines to the north and east. Kota Kinabalu is the state capital and the economic centre of the state, and the seat of the Sabah State government. Other major towns in Sabah include Sandakan and Tawau. The 2020 census recorded a population of 3,418,785 in the state. It has an equatorial climate with tropical rainforests, abundant with animal and plant species. The state has long mountain ranges on the west side which forms part of the Crocker Range National Park. Kinabatangan River, the second longest river in Malaysia runs through Sabah. The highest point of Sabah, Mount Kinabalu is also the highest point of Malaysia.
Bioprospecting is the exploration of natural sources for small molecules, macromolecules and biochemical and genetic information that could be developed into commercially valuable products for the agricultural, aquaculture, bioremediation, cosmetics, nanotechnology, or pharmaceutical industries. In the pharmaceutical industry, for example, almost one third of all small-molecule drugs approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) between 1981 and 2014 were either natural products or compounds derived from natural products.
Miri is a coastal city in north-eastern Sarawak, Malaysia, located near the border of Brunei, on the island of Borneo. The city covers an area of 997.43 square kilometres (385.11 sq mi), located 798 kilometres (496 mi) north-east of Kuching and 329 kilometres (204 mi) south-west of Kota Kinabalu. Miri is the second-largest city in Sarawak, with a population of 300,543 as of 2020. The city is also the capital of Miri District, Miri Division.
Kota Samarahan, formerly known as Muara Tuang, is a town and the administrative seat of the Samarahan District in Samarahan Division, Sarawak, Malaysia. It is also a satellite town for Kuching due to its proximity to the city part of Greater Kuching area. The Sarawak government position Kota Samarahan as the medical and education hub of the state. Saramahan is the heart of Sarawak Malays which is majority of 56%.
Argan oil is a plant oil produced from the kernels of the argan tree, which is indigenous to Morocco and southwestern Algeria. In Morocco, argan oil is used to dip bread in at breakfast or to drizzle on couscous or pasta. It is also used for cosmetic purposes.
Bintulu is a coastal town on the island of Borneo in the central region of Sarawak, Malaysia. Bintulu is located 610 kilometres northeast of Kuching, 216 kilometres northeast of Sibu, and 200 kilometres southwest of Miri. With a population of 114,058 as of 2010, Bintulu is the capital of the Bintulu District of the Bintulu Division of Sarawak, Malaysia.
Biobased economy, bioeconomy or biotechonomy is economic activity involving the use of biotechnology and biomass in the production of goods, services, or energy. The terms are widely used by regional development agencies, national and international organizations, and biotechnology companies. They are closely linked to the evolution of the biotechnology industry and the capacity to study, understand, and manipulate genetic material that has been possible due to scientific research and technological development. This includes the application of scientific and technological developments to agriculture, health, chemical, and energy industries.
Bario is a community of 13 to 16 villages located on the Kelabit Highlands in Miri Division, Sarawak, Malaysia, lying at an altitude of 1000 m (3280 ft) above sea level. It is located close to the Sarawak-Kalimantan border, 178 km to the east of Miri. It is the main settlement for the indigenous Kelabit tribe. There are regular flights between the Bario, Miri and Marudi.
Calanolide A is an experimental non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI). This compound was extracted from the tree Calophyllum lanigerum, of variety austrocoriaceum, in Lundu, Malaysian state of Sarawak in 1992 by United States National Cancer Institute (NCI). Due to rarity of the raw materials and low yield of the active ingredient, total synthesis of the compound was devised in 1996. For the same reason, its sister compound (-)-Calanolide B have been touted as replacement. As a result of the discovery of Calanolide A, Sarawak Medichem pharmaceuticals company was established as a joint venture between US-based MediChem Research Inc and Craun Research Sdn Bhd, a company owned by the Sarawak state government. In 2006, Craun Research acquired Sarawak MediChem. In 2016, Craun Research announced the completion of Phase I clinical trials for Calanolide A.
Participatory 3D modelling (P3DM) is a community-based mapping method which integrates local spatial knowledge with data on elevation of the land and depth of the sea to produce stand-alone, scaled and geo-referenced relief models. Essentially based on local spatial knowledge, land use and cover, and other features are depicted by informants on the model by the use of pushpins (points), yarns (lines) and paints (polygons). On completion, a scaled and geo-referenced grid is applied to facilitate data extraction or importation. Data depicted on the model are extracted, digitised and plotted. On completion of the exercise the model remains with the community.
Palm oil, produced from the oil palm, is a basic source of income for many farmers in South East Asia, Central and West Africa, and Central America. It is locally used as cooking oil, exported for use in much commercial food and personal care products and is converted into biofuel. It produces up to 10 times more oil per unit area than soybeans, rapeseed or sunflowers.
Deforestation in Borneo has taken place on an industrial scale since the 1960s. Borneo, the third largest island in the world, divided between Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei, was once covered by dense tropical and subtropical rainforests.
IREL (India) Limited is an Indian Public Sector Undertaking based in Mumbai, Maharashtra. It has a specialization in mining and refining of rare earth metals.
Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST), previously RONAST, is an autonomous apex body established in 1982 to promote science and technology in Nepal. With the implementation of federal structure by the government of Nepal, it has opened its first provincial office at Mahendranagar.
University of Technology Sarawak is a private university and state government-linked university as it is wholly owned by Yayasan Sarawak located in Sibu, Sarawak.
Cannabis concentrate, also called marijuana concentrate, marijuana extract, or cannabis extract, is a tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and/or cannabidiol (CBD) concentrated mass. Cannabis concentrates contain high THC levels that range from 40% to over 90%, stronger in THC content than high-grade marijuana, which normally measures around 20% THC levels.
The economy of Sarawak is the fourth-largest of the states of Malaysia, making up 9.3% of the Malaysian gross domestic product (GDP) in 2022. Meanwhile, Sarawak is home to 7.9% of the Malaysian population based on the 2020 census.
Biopiracy is defined as the unauthorized appropriation of knowledge and genetic resources of farming and indigenous communities by individuals or institutions seeking exclusive monopoly control through patents or intellectual property. While bioprospecting is the act of exploring natural resources for undiscovered chemical compounds with medicinal or anti-microbial properties, commercial success from bioprospecting leads to the company's attempt at protecting their intellectual property rights on indigenous medicinal plants, seeds, genetic resources, and traditional medicines.