Bionet International - Malaysia Biotechnology, Bio Sensor, Healthcare Products

Agriculture

Agriculture plays a very important role in Malaysia as well as South East Asia as these countries are agro-based. The misuse and excessive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides have often adversely affected the environment and created many human and animal health problems. Often engineers have attempted to solve these problems using established chemical and physical methods. However, they have usually found that such problems cannot be solved without using microbial methods and technologies in coordination with agricultural production. Agricultural systems, which conform to the principles of natural ecosystems, are now receiving a great deal of attention in both developed and developing countries.

	a.	Pesticide Sensor
		Excessive use of pesticides can be very dangerous. Among pesticides, organophosphates appear to be the most toxic one. Many organophosphates are potent neurotoxins, functioning by inhibiting the action of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in nerve cells. They are one of the most common causes of poisoning worldwide, and are frequently intentionally used in suicides in agricultural areas. Their toxicity is not limited to the acute phase, however, and chronic effects have long been noted. Neurotransmitters such as acetylcholine (which is affected by organophosphate pesticides) are profoundly important in the brain's development, and many OPs have neurotoxic effects on developing organisms even from low levels of exposure.

	b.	Bio-Pesticide / Bio-Control Agent
		Malaysia being agriculture-based country is important for us to produce sustainable agriculture products through good management and practise. With the development of consortia of locally isolated soil microorganisms which exhibit symbiotic and synergistic relationships, will be able to control wide range of soil-borne plant diseases. The use of mixed cultures of beneficial microorganisms is an effort to maintain its natural ecosystems, which is to shift the microbiological equilibrium in favour to plant growth and development. This Bio-Pesticide is proven to be effective in healing the Ganoderma Basal Stem Rot disease in oil palm plantation. The project is under collaboration with International Islamic University, Malaysia and will very soon go for field trial.