Biotech plan needs a rethink

epaselect epa05576258 Owen Collumb of the Britain team NeurcoCONCISE competes at the Brain-Computer Interface Race (BCI) during the first Cybathlon in Zurich, Switzerland, 08 October 2016. The first Cybathlon, a platform for the development of novel assistive technologies that are useful for daily life, is organised by the ETH Zurich. Individuals with physical disabilities will compete side by side in six demanding disciplines, using the latest assistive technologies. EPA/ALEXANDRA WEY

IT was more than two decades ago when Malaysia first became serious about biotechnology and looked at it as another avenue for growth. Many around the world were also hailing the sector as the new economic wonder.

Concern over climate change and the search for greener solutions were some of the factors driving global interest in biotechnology.