Developing Biotechnology in Johor Bahru: Sustainable Insect-Based Solutions

Joint Laboratory for Biotechnology Research and Industrial Application between IBD-UTM and Nutrition Technologies

0
4199
UTM
IBD UTM - Nutrition Technologies joint venture lab

Nutrition Technologies Sdn Bhd is a biotech company that offers sustainable insect-based solutions to support the global food supply chain. The company manufactures and supply sustainable insect proteins and oils to help feed the growing aquaculture, pet food and animal feed industries around the world. Nutrition Technologies also offer insect-based organic fertilisers to the agricultural sector.

Founded in 2014 in Vietnam, by Nick Piggott and Tom Berry, the company have set-up a facility in Johor Bahru since 2017. Due to its favourable environment for biotech innovation, Nutrition Technologies wishes to extend its operation in Malaysia before growing in SEA.

Nutrition Technologies’ unique solutions use high-tech combination of bacteria and insects to upcycle nutrients from vegetable and grain by-products, and provide sustainable ingredients to feed the world. In this framework, the company joined forces with the Institute of Bioproduct Development (IBD) from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), through a joint-venture lab, to develop advanced research in biotechnology in Johor Bahru. For several years the Institute of Bioproduct Development of UTM, led by its Director Prof. Dr. Hesham A. El-Enshasy, has run many research programmes and successful collaboration with biotech companies.

The “Joint Laboratory for Biotechnology Research and Industrial Application” between UTM-IBD and Nutrition Technologies was launched in the presence of Nutrition Technologies and IBD-UTM representatives. The agreement was signed by UTM Vice Chancellor Datuk Ir. Dr. Wahid Omar. Over three years, with a total budget of USD$90,000, this joint laboratory will aim to establish a microbial research platform for biotechnology and develop solutions for food and feed industries using different Microbial Cell Biofactories.

Employing more than 50 people in Malaysia, and working closely with respected institutions like UTM, Nutrition Technologies is proud of this long-term partnership that brings another stepping stone in developing biotechnology in Johor Bahru.