ThE BIOLOGY ReVoLuTIoN...

BIOTECHNOLOGY is simply “technology applied on biology”, especially when used in agriculture, food science, and medicine.

Indeed, the modern world went through the “physics revolution” that saw the birth of nuclear power and the “chemical revolution” that lead to the chemical and pharmaceutical industries. And now it is the biology revolution.

Biotechnology now plays a central role in:
>> developing medicine and other therapies
>> understanding diseases
>> forensics
>> improving animal and plant production
>> increasing industry effectiveness
>> environmental monitoring
>> developing alternatives to fossil fuels

Some aspects of biotechnology are very contentious. Genetically modified food, use of animals in research, stem cell development and cloning hog the headlines. These technologies may be unsafe with risks to us or the environment.

There are sometimes serious conflicts with society’s beliefs.Still, biotech is the current buzz and the definite wave of the future. It is seen as the technology to “heal, feed and fuel” the world.

There is a huge “biotech war” shaping up globally with much money being poured into this arena.

Malaysia has also plunged into the global marketplace with the launch of the National Biotech Policy on April 28, 2005. The Malaysian Biotechnology Corporation is the facilitator for our biotech ecosystem. They will also look into creating commercial opportunities; providing funding and industry development services; and advancing research and development and commerce in agriculture biotechnology, healthcare biotechnology and industrial biotechnology.

The National Biotechnology Policy is to be implemented in three phases that would eventually see Malaysia as a global biotech player with 20 global icons by 2020.With India, China and Australia in close proximity as well as Singapore just across the causeway, we have our job cut out for us. For starters, Malaysia is late on the block. That is not necessarily a bad thing. We can learn from the mistakes of others and use it to our advantage.

So, what are U waiting for?? Lead this technology to the climax...To win in the brutal global marketplace, we will need to ruthlessly focus on our strengths. If we are focused, we could do a lot more!!!