JULY-AUGUST. 2026 | @ AGROBiz
03
@ AGROBiz says...
Time to talk GM
17
P16-17 | Agriculture & Food Security Building stronger links Hungary will participate in MAHA 2026, providing an avenue for closer bilateral engagement.
P18-19 | Plantation & Commodities The carbon picture Greater use of mill by-products could help reduce carbon emissions, improve resource efficiency and contribute to Malaysia ' s energy security.
P20 | Fisheries Neighbours find common ground Malaysia and Thailand formalise an agricultural cooperation agreement to improve food security, trade facilitation, and coordination on fisheries and agricultural products.
14 18
P21 | Technology Taking smart farming to the field Smart farming can improve productivity while reducing water, fertiliser, pesticide, and energy use.
P22-23 | Sabah Sabah sows for growth SAEX 2026 will highlight opportunities beyond farming, including biotechnology, bioeconomy, food processing and sustainable agricultural solutions.
P24-25 | Sarawak Building food value COSAFS 2026 highlighted the need to strengthen the entire food chain, from research and production to processing and market access.
P26-27 | Column The ingredient advantage Halal and plant-based markets are driving stronger demand for clear, traceable and verified food ingredients.
MALAYSIA’ S debate over a proposed genetically modified( GM) rice trial is likely to continue, with questions about safety, environmental effects, and what the technology could mean for farmers.
Those concerns deserve attention. But the discussion also presents a bigger question for the country’ s agricultural sector: how prepared are we to deal with new technologies as farming becomes increasingly dependent on innovation?
Malaysia wants a more productive, resilient and secure food system. Achieving that will require more than increasing acreage or encouraging more people to farm. New crop varieties, precision agriculture, automation, artificial intelligence and other technologies will increasingly form part of the equation. But innovation cannot be treated as an automatic solution. The debate surrounding GM rice shows why public confidence matters. Technologies that could potentially improve yields or strengthen crop resilience must be assessed on sound scientific evidence, transparent regulation and their practical value to farmers. At the same time, legitimate concerns should not simply be dismissed as resistance to progress.
We also need to look beyond what a technology can achieve in controlled conditions. For farmers, the more immediate questions are often simpler: Will it reduce costs? Will it improve productivity? Is it affordable? Will markets accept the resulting produce? And will farmers have the knowledge and support needed to use it effectively?
These considerations are particularly important as Malaysia seeks to strengthen food security while dealing with climate pressures, labour shortages and rising production costs.
The answer should not be to choose between innovation and caution. Malaysia needs both.
Agricultural technology should be given room to develop, but with safeguards strong enough to maintain confidence among farmers, consumers and the wider public. Decisions should be based neither on technological enthusiasm nor fear, but on evidence and outcomes.
The GM rice debate may ultimately be about one crop and one proposed trial. But the larger lesson is far more significant.
24 12-13
As Malaysia looks towards the future of farming, the real test will be whether it can embrace innovation responsibly and build enough trust for that innovation to have a place in the fields it is ultimately meant to serve.