Mapping Malaysia's Resource Centres

32 MAPPING MALAYSIA’S RESOURCE CENTRES Area of Expertise Plant Biotechnology, Plant Pathology, Plant Biochemistry, Agronomy, Breeding, Soil, Food & Environmental Science, Botany, Taxonomy, Engineering, Nanotechnology, Economy, Socio-Economy, Microbiology, Chemistry, Animal & Veterinary Science, Bioinformation and Computer Science. Strengths and Achievements MARDI has come up with 50 paddy varieties. Currently in Peninsular Malaysia, approximately 98% of paddy growers use MARDI’s paddy variety. Adding to that are superior crop varieties such as Exotica papaya, Josapine pineapple, starfruit varieties (Mstar),rambutan varieties (Mutiara Wangi and Mutiara merah), chili varieties (L5 & L6), lowland tomato varieties (MAHA18), 6 coconut varieties (Careca, Careni, Marena, Myleca, Mylag, Marleca) and more. It has also developed several technologies to manage and control pests and diseases, diagnostic tools for detection of pathogens/ genes, technologies to reduce agricultural input and more. Projects Undertaken (Domestic) 1. Fruits: 1 project. 2. Floriculture: 1 project. 3. Technology transfer: 2 projects. 4. Biodiversity and sustainable agriculture: 2 projects. 5. High value products: 1 project. 6. Vegetables: 2 projects. 7. Industrial crops: 1 project. 8. Livestock: 6 projects. 9. Resource and infrastructure: 2 projects. 10. Precision farming: 1 project. Projects Undertaken (International) 1. Capacity building; The Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation of the Organisation of the Islamic Cooperation (COMCEC); Ankara, Turkey; 1 project; 2. Conservation and use of Taro; International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA); Rome, Italy; 1 project; 3. Biogas from mixed agricultural waste; Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF); Jakarta, Indonesia; 1 project; MALAYSIAN AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE (MARDI) Introduction Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI), a statutory body was established on October 28, 1969, with the primary objective of developing and promoting new and appropriate technologies in agriculture. Its core business is to carry out research and development to generate, disseminate and transfer innovative technologies to stakeholders. MARDI also provides technical services and consultancy, as well as offers collaboration and licensing arrangements for the commercialisation of research results. MARDI also addresses constraints and challenges faced by the industry to ensure that agriculture remains a robust industry, contributing significantly to the country’s economy and nation’s wellbeing. A G R I C U L T U R E A N D R & D