The Agriculture Ministry is exploring a new seed regulatory body to boost local standards and reduce Malaysia’s high dependence on imported seeds.
GEORGE TOWN: The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security is studying the need to establish a Seed Technical Committee as a regulatory body to ensure the country’s seed standards meet both local and export market requirements.
Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu chaired the first National Seed Council meeting of 2026 at MARDI Seberang Perai, involving ministry representatives, government agencies, and private sector seed and breed industry experts.
The meeting also discussed strengthening Malaysia’s ruminant industry, including goat and cattle commodities, to achieve high productivity through quality breeds and strategic public-private partnerships.
A ministry statement said the National Seed Hub initiative aims to develop local seed and breed supplies as a strategic step to ensure supply stability and national food security.
It added that the national preparedness agenda for seed supply is timely, especially following the global energy crisis which has pressured the food supply chain in fisheries, crops, and livestock.
Mohamad Sabu also visited Institut Pertanian Bumbong Lima to demonstrate the government’s commitment to human capital development and attracting youth to the agricultural sector.
IPBL is one of six main agricultural training institutes, offering an Agricultural Certificate Programme and a Malaysian Skills Certificate Programme, having produced 3,430 and 148 graduates respectively.
The institute’s training programmes produce graduates knowledgeable in agriculture, supporting efforts to improve the quality of local seeds and breeds.
Strategic cooperation between the government and private sector in seed and breed development also boosts the competitiveness of the agri-food sector.
Continuous efforts in empowering local seeds and breeds are therefore key to achieving food security and sustainable agricultural development.
The minister added that this is crucial for successfully achieving the goal of reducing seed imports by 30% by 2040.
