Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), through the Biotechnology Research Institute (BRI), is strengthening efforts to support the development of Paulownia cultivation in Sabah through a strong collaboration with Koperasi Arus Gemilang Sabah Berhad (KAGSB).
The project, led by Assoc. Prof. Ts. Dr. Wilson Yong Thau Lym, focuses on the production of high-quality Paulownia seedlings using plant tissue culture technology. Unlike conventional propagation methods, plant tissue culture enables the rapid multiplication of genetically uniform, healthy and vigorous planting materials under controlled conditions.
The technology offers the potential to provide a more consistent and reliable supply of seedlings, particularly for plantation development that requires substantial quantities of quality planting materials. For Assoc. Prof. Ts. Dr. Wilson Yong, the initiative represents more than a biotechnology project, it is an effort to bridge the gap between research and real-world application.
For Assoc. Prof. Ts. Dr. Wilson Yong, the initiative represents more than a biotechnology project, it is an effort to bridge the gap between research and real-world application.
“The project goes beyond producing seedlings. Our aim is to establish a reliable biotechnology-based propagation system that can support Paulownia cultivation and create opportunities for downstream development. Collaboration with KAGSB provides an important link between UMS research capabilities and real-world field applications” he added.
Director of the Biotechnology Research Institute, Prof. Dr. Jualang Azlan Gansau, said the project demonstrates BRI’s capability in applying plant biotechnology to support agricultural and community development.
“BRI has the expertise, facilities and human capital to develop and apply plant tissue culture technologies for the production of quality planting materials. This collaboration demonstrates our commitment to translating research and biotechnology innovation into practical solutions for society and industry,” he said.
Meanwhile, KAGSB sees potential for Paulownia to contribute to a broader agroforestry value chain involving plantation establishment, biomass production and downstream utilisation.
According to Chairman KAGSB, Haji Eddy Berhan, the development of Paulownia cultivation has the potential to create new economic opportunities, particularly when supported by technology, technical guidance, and suitable land use. “We see Paulownia as more than a plantation crop. With appropriate technical guidance and suitable land, it has the potential to generate new economic opportunities through plantation development and downstream utilisation.
“We encourage landowners and communities with suitable land to explore this opportunity and participate in the development of a sustainable Paulownia-based industry,” he said.
The collaboration is expected to strengthen the connection between biotechnology, plantation development and community-based economic opportunities, with the long-term vision of developing a complete value chain from tissue culture seedling production to field cultivation and downstream applications.
More importantly, the initiative illustrates how university research can move beyond scientific discovery to create practical pathways for innovation, entrepreneurship and community development.
Through this collaboration, UMS and KAGSB are exploring how biotechnology can provide the foundation for a new generation of sustainable plantation development in Sabah, starting in the laboratory, but with its potential reaching far beyond it.
