KUCHING, Nov 5 — Sarawak’s indigenous Engkerebai plant (Psychotria viridiflora) could soon be developed into a high-value cosmeceutical product following the signing of the state’s fourth Benefit Sharing Agreement (BSA).
The plant has long been used in Iban culture for dyeing pua kumbu and treating skin ailments.
The agreement, inked between the Sarawak Biodiversity Council and Iban communities from Julau, Pakan, Roban, Lubok Antu, and Pantu, ensures that any future commercial use of the plant will return benefits to the communities that contributed their traditional knowledge.
Minister for Education, Innovation and Talent Development Dato Sri Roland Sagah Wee Inn, who witnessed the signing, said the research on Engkerebai demonstrates how Sarawak is turning traditional wisdom into scientific and economic value.
“The research findings on Engkerebai are more than just scientific achievements; they hold the key to a high-value cosmeceutical product,” he said at the ceremony held during the Sarawak Biodiversity Centre’s (SBC) annual dinner here last night.
He urged local entrepreneurs to invest in the growing green value chain, noting that the global cosmeceutical market is projected to nearly double from US$74 billion (RM310.65 billion) this year to US$138 billion (RM579.32 billion) by 2032.
Sagah said the BSA reflects Sarawak’s leadership in implementing the Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) framework under the Nagoya Protocol, which ensures that monetary and non-monetary gains from the use of traditional knowledge and genetic resources are shared fairly with local communities.
He also highlighted that SBC’s documentation of traditional knowledge aligns with the United Nations’ call for inclusive and equitable data governance, ensuring indigenous data rights are recognised.
Furthermore, he noted the SBC is collaborating with other state agencies, led by the Sarawak Multimedia Authority, to develop a governance framework for Indigenous data, contributing to Malaysia’s input to the UN’s working group on data governance.
Beyond conservation, Sagah said Sarawak’s long-term goal is to bridge traditional knowledge with modern science, particularly in herbal medicine research and human capital development.
“Since 2024, SBC has also been working closely with the Ministry of Health in developing the Malaysian Herbal Monograph and Pharmacopoeia.
“These are important documents to serve as a national reference, guiding the development of herbal products into Traditional Medicine, Modern Claims or Therapeutic Claims.
“This is an example of how traditional wisdom and modern science can come together to improve healthcare,” he said. — The Borneo Post
