BINTULU: The application of plant tissue culture technology is set to play a key role in advancing Sarawak’s planted forests.
The Forest Department Sarawak (FDS) said its director Datuk Hamden Mohammad and his team recently visited Samling Group’s Plant Tissue Culture facilities in Bintulu to explore the latest advancements in biotechnology for planted forest development.
“During a technical briefing, Samling presented encouraging results from its tissue culture-derived Eucalyptus hybrid plantations, which have recorded over 50 per cent higher Mean Annual Increment (MAI) compared to conventional seed-derived plantations.
“These findings demonstrate strong potential for enhancing plantation productivity, promoting sustainability, and strengthening Sarawak’s timber industry,” it said in a press release today (June 15).
It added that the visit was hosted by Samling Group chief operating officer Yap Fui Fook and joined by researchers from both the FDS and Samling Group.
“The visit highlighted Samling’s commitment to applied-innovation through the use of plant tissue culture – a biotechnological technique for the mass propagation of selected Eucalyptus clones.
“This method complements conventional propagation techniques and offers an efficient alternative to produce high-quality planting materials for forest plantations,” it explained.
Looking ahead, it said Samling Group targets the production of 1.7 to 2.4 million plantlets in 2025 and 2026, with plans to scale up laboratory capacity to produce eight million plantlets annually, and eventually up to 25 million plantlets per year.
“This large-scale propagation aligns with Sarawak’s goal of achieving sustainable, high-performing, and commercially viable forest plantations,” it added.
