Kuala lumpur: The government, through the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (Mardi), plans to focus on collaboration with the United States in research on sweet corn and soybeans, the Dewan Negara was told today. Deputy Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Chan Foong Hin said this is because the United States is the leading producer of both commodities.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Chan emphasized that with the expertise of the United States, Malaysia could engage in germplasm exchange, modern breeding technologies, and seed production mechanisation to reduce dependence on imported animal feed. This initiative was highlighted while responding to a supplementary question from Senator Musoddak Ahmad.

On the status and mechanism of Malaysia-United States collaboration in agricultural technology, Chan mentioned that it is currently limited and centred on Mardi, an agency under the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (KPKM). He noted that it involves bilateral cooperation with the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), covering technology, research, and agricultural innovation.

Chan elaborated that this collaboration is implemented through USDA-sponsored capacity development programmes such as the Borlaug Fellowship Programme and USDA FAS Scientific Exchange Programme in 2024. These programmes involve the placement of Mardi research officers at academic institutions in the US for technology transfer, enhancement of scientific expertise, and strengthening international research networks.

Further collaboration is conducted through multilateral platforms such as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), particularly under the High-Level Policy Dialogue on Agricultural Biotechnology. Mardi co-hosted an agricultural biotechnology workshop with the USDA in 2020. Additionally, Chan stated that Mardi was involved in two projects in 2023 focusing on regulatory collaboration, innovation, climate change mitigation, and trade in agricultural biotechnology products.