Money growing on trees

New role: With its move to the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry, FRIM has diverted from primary industries to promoting sustainable management and optimal use of forest resources via research. — FAIHAN GHANI/The Star

THE country has lost billions of ringgit in revenue because our forestry products couldn’t be commercialised.

Citing an example, Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) director-general Datuk Dr Abd Latif Mohmod shares how it received a mere RM80,000 last year in patent royalty payments while companies that use their products and technology earn millions in sales.