KUCHING: Sarawak Biodiversity Centre (SBC)’s Natural Product Library now boasts 22,000 live microbial strains, nearly rivalling the world’s largest collection, the International Collection of Agricultural and Biosciences in the United Kingdom.
SBC chief executive officer Datuk Dr Yeo Tiong Chia said over the last 25 years, SBC has set up the library which includes a collection of 26,000 plant resources associated with the traditional knowledge of the communities.
“At the same time, SBC’s Natural Product Library also consists of 22,000 living microbial strains.
“The Agriculture and BioScience International culture collection in the United Kingdom, one of the largest collections in the world has over 30,000 living microbes from 142 nations.
“Meaning, here in Sarawak, we have nearly matched one of the largest collections in the world,” said Yeo during SBC’s 25th anniversary dinner held at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) on Tuesday.
Education, Innovation, and Talent Development Minister Datuk Seri Roland Sagah Wee Inn, attended the event on behalf of Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, along with State Secretary cum chairman of SBC Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki.
He added that the library is also unique in a way that it is also linked to an artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted chemical database which could lead to breakthroughs in various areas such as in food, fuel and feed.
“The organisation funding this research will ultimately see the value of these biodiversity assets,” he said.
