23/03/2011 (The Star) - A biotechnology company is using genome technology to help reduce oil palm’s long breeding cycle by 50%.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin was briefed on Genting Group’s biotechnology investments, including ACGT Sdn Bhd’s genomic-based marker-assisted selection technology which aims to enhance productivity and reduce the oil palm growth cycle from 12 years to six years.

Also present at the ACGT Labora­tories in Technology Park here was Genting Bhd chairman Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay.

“This breakthrough will accelerate the development and commercial release of seeds without any genetic modifications,” ACGT said in a statement yesterday.

ACGT, which focuses on applying genome technology to improve crops, is a subsidiary of Genting Plantations Bhd.

Muhyiddin, who is also Education Minister, was also informed of ACGT’s research and development work on the ganoderma fungi which causes diseases in oil palm.