Sustainability & Innovation in Agritech & Biotech for Food Security

In view of the rapid growth in the ICT, Biotechnology and Agritech sectors over thenext decade as well as the relevance of sustainability ability to change, especially intoday’s world characterised by rapid unpredictable change and volatility, the theme“Sustainability & Innovation in Agritech & Biotech for Food Security” was chosen as thetheme for the Agritech & Biotech Investment Forum 2010 to be held on 30 March 2010 atthe Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The conference, the 2nd inthe series, is organised by the Asian Strategy & Leadership Institute (ASLI).Malaysian agricultural & biotechnology sector has been growing rapidly over the years.Production rate of the industry in Malaysia is considerably one of the largest amongst theAsia Region due to excellent natural conditions – level of humidity, tropical weather and richsoil. However, technology is slowly but steadily making a humble entry and inroad into theMalaysian farms.Concurrently, the initiative was taken by the Government to establish food security for Malaysiaand reduce over-dependence on food import. Government aspires to reduce Malaysia’sdependence on food import worth RM 28.0 billion in 2008 to about RM 14.0 billion annually.With the implementation of the new Food Policy by the Ministry of Agriculture & Agro-BasedIndustries, the nation should be able to show a food surplus by 2020. The Government hasalso allocated RM 6.0 billion for the sector in the 2010 Budget. Agritech and Biotech sectoris an important source of income for the people in rural areas and for the growth of thenation’s economy. As such a massive transformation is needed for the sector beginningfrom the planning level right up to marketing. With the support of small-scale and big-scalefarmers, livestock breeder, fishermen, large corporations, and the commitment given by thegovernment, it is not impossible to transform the sector to be a big success story throughlarge-scale and high-impact projects.Our main focus is to achieve a situation which would warrant calling our agricultural,biotechnology and food practices economically, socially and ecologicallysustainable. To reach the goals entails changes and adaptations at all levels –farming methods; consumption patterns; trade relations, production; storageand processing technologies; human rights and gender balance, tradition andvalues; education and sharing of knowledge; innovation and conservation andlifestyle patterns. Therefore, new technologies and advances in agri-tech andbiotech practices has come all the more importantWe are planning to bring together experts and leading players to unlocksecrets to developing unique capabilities that helped them to seize marketopportunities and transform their businesses into successful trailblazers.Role-players and delegates will be able to share the latest key and innovativetrends, unique value-creating strategies and unlimited opportunities. This forumwill create a plethora of networking opportunities, sharing of views, thoughts andideas on numerous topics for participants and role-players to capitalise on.WHO SHOULD ATTEND• Industrial Policy-Makers & Decision-Makers• Experts & Professional Consultants• Agritech & Biotech entrepreneurs• SME & Entrepreneurs in Agritech & Biotech sector• Funding agencies and companies• Consumers• Farm Owners• Service Providers• Equipment & Accessories Providers• Managing Directors• Chief Executive Officer• Senior & Middle Management in the Agri and Bio industries• Small and Medium-sized Companies• Supply Chain Directors / Distributors• High Performance individuals, investors and entrepreneurs• Top Government & Senior Officials• Trading Companies and Manufacturers• Regulators• Institutional and Investment Investors• Investment and Private Bankers• Private Equity Fund Managers• Professionals• Project Managers• Scientists• Engineers & Technicians• Corporate Financiers• Venture Capitalists• Academicians• Industry Analysts• Researchers• Relevant institutions and associations• Interested public – individuals and companiesinterested to seek knowledge• Companies & Organisations with Products &Services related to relevant industrial areas

SPEAKERS’ PROFILEDATO’ GHAZALI DATO’ MOHD YUSOFF is the Executive Chairman of Nusantara Technologies Sdn. Bhd. He graduated fromthe University of Malaya in 1968 in Economics and Geography. Dato’ Ghazali then worked in a multinational companyand travelled extensively throughout the world. The Company encouraged him to be active in many outside activitiesand he therefore enjoyed various positions and involvement in National, Regional and International Organisations. Heis also actively involved in the field of sustainable development and is currently the Honorary Executive Director of theBusiness Council for Sustainable Development Malaysia of which he is also the founding member. His other affiliationincludes Advisor to Asia-Pacific Office of The Oxford Centre for Leadership.DATO’ MOHAMED IQBAL RAWTHER is the Vice President of the ASEAN Business Forum and Executive Director of theFarlim Group Berhad. He joined Farlim Group (Malaysia) Bhd. as a Director on 4 May 1982. He obtained a Certificatein Education from the University of Birmingham in 1964. Subsequently, he obtained his Bachelor of Economics Degree(Honours) and a Masters Degree in Business Administration in 1971 and 1973 respectively, both from the Universityof Malaya. He then furthered his studies and obtained the International Management Teacher’s Programme certificatefrom the joint programme organised by the Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration and the Centre D’Enseignment Superior Des Affairs, Paris, France in 1978. In 1993, he received a Doctorate in Management from La SalleUniversity, US. Among his many achievements include being awarded the Sir Frederick Gallahan Memorial Award by theAustralian-Malaysian Association of Australia in 1976 in recognition of his entrepreneurial management in Malaysia.DATO’ DR. RAJEN. M is the MD & CEO of Holista Colltech Australia Ltd. obtained his Bachelor of Pharmacy fromUniversiti Sains Malaysia. He went on to a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Strathclyde,Scotland. He also holds a Doctorate In Holistic Medicine from University of LaSalle, Louisiana, USA. He is the founderand CEO of Holista Colltech Ltd a biotech company listed in Australian Stock Exchange focusing in the natural productsbiotechnology space. He writes the Health Column in the Sunday Times. He used to write in The Star previous to this.He used to lecture in alternative medicine in Universiti Malaya, Univesiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and International MedicalUniversity. He is also the Managing Editor of the Journal of Tropical Medicinal Plants – the only journal in the worldthat focuses on medicinal plants from the tropics. He has been active in the industry and was actually a member of theMinistry of Health’s Standing Committee in Traditional Medicine. He has also served as Organizing Chairman of thethree series of the Woman’s Health And Asian Traditional Medicine (WHAT Medicine).DR CHEN SAU SOON is the Senior General Manager – Environment & Bio-Process Technology Centre, SIRIM Berhad. Shehas been attached to SIRIM for the past 25 years and worked on a number of technology areas covering metalworking,chemical technology and for the last 12 years, in environment and energy. In the field of environment and energymanagement technology, she has implemented and managed a range of industrial, government and collaborativeinternational R&D projects related to environmental risk management, hazardous waste treatment, chemical safetymanagement, wastewater treatment, photo catalytic treatment, life cycle assessment and lately on eco-design andgreen supply chain. She has also served as Chairman / Member for a number of technical committees / policy relatedcommittees under the Ministry of Science, Technology & Innovation, Ministry of Natural Resources & Environment andthe Ministry of International Trade & Industry.PETER R. VOGT is the Managing Director of Nestlé (Malaysia) Berhad, post that he has held since 16 September 2009.He also assumes the post of Regional Head for Nestlé Malaysia/Singapore. A graduate of Switzerland’s University St.Gallen and the London School of Economics, Mr Vogt has served the Nestle Group of Companies worldwide for almost30 years and held numerous senior positions in other Nestle markets including Japan, Hong Kong, Malaysia and SriLanka. During his last posting to Malaysia, he was Marketing Division Manager, a position he held from 1990 to 1994.From 1996 to 2005, he was heading various Nestlé operations in Switzerland, Scandinavia and Germany, after whichhe was appointed President Director (CEO) of PT Nestlé Indonesia, the second largest food company in the country. MrVogt is a Committee Member of the Malaysian International Chamber of Commerce & Industry (MICCI) and Member ofthe Swiss-Malaysian Business Association.

SPEAKERS’ PROFILENAZRIN HASSAN is the Chief Executive Officer of the Cradle Fund Sdn. Bhd. which was formed to manage CradleInvestment Programme. Cradle Investment Programme (CIP) was formed with RM100million allocated by the Ministryof Finance (MOF) in June 2003 to fill up the pre-seed and seed funding gap for high technology ventures. His previousworking experiences include Executive Director of TeAM (March – October 2007); Deputy CEO and Director of SmartConvergence Sdn Bhd, a company that specialised in set top box technologies; Head of the Structuring team and laterActing Head and Strategy and Policy Advisor for Cradle Investment Programme (CIP); Zamet DotCom Sdn. Bhd; ZARGroup and the CIMB.DR GURMIT SINGH is an Agricultural Scientist and Agronomist by training. He obtained his Ph.D. in Agriculture fromMassey University, New Zealand in 1977 and started his career with the United Plantations Berhad as Assistant ResearchOfficer and served the company in numerous positions before being appointed Director of Research in 1997, a positionthat he held until his retirement in December 2009. Dr Gurmit has published many scientific papers and technicalreports on oil palm, coconuts, cocoa and bananas, and has, over the years, served as a Member of several technicalcommittees related to agriculture. His professional affiliations include being Member of the Malaysian Palm Oil Board(MPOB) Programme Advisory Committee which reviews and advises on MPOB’s R&D activities. From November 2000to October 2002, he served as Adjunct Professor in the Department of Biochemistry & Microbiology at the UniversitiPutra Malaysia (UPM). Dr Gurmit is currently the Agronomical Services Consultant with the IBG Bio Ventures Berhad.In 2008, he was bestowed with the Fellowship of the Incorporated Society of Planters (FISP).ZAM BINTI AB. KARIM is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Melaka Biotechnology Corporation, a Melaka stategovernment-linked agency responsible for the development of Biotechnology sector for Melaka since June of 2009. Sheobtained her B. Agriculture Science degree from the University of Malaya (1976) majoring in Botany and traditionalherbs and her M. Sc. in Entomology from the University of Idaho, USA. (1984). She had served as an AgricultureOfficer with the Department of Agriculture (1976-1994), where she had made major contributions to the agriculturesector both in the food crop production as well as the oil palm sub-sector in the field of plant protection and cropmanagement. In her capacity as the CEO of Melaka Biotechnology Cor[poration, she is also appointed as the ManagingDirector of Melaka Biotech Holdings Sdn. Bhd., the business arm of the Corporation and the Director of MelakaInstitute of Biotechnology which is involved in research activities in biotechnology covering agrobiotechnology, food,microbiology, Chemistry/phytochemistry, aquaculture, tissue culture and toxicology. The agency is also involved inBiotechnopreneur development programme through commercialisation of research outputs. Through this program, twospin–off companies had been established and other potential projects are being nurtured besides formation of jointventuresand partnerships with other companies.MAHDI MOHD ARIFFIN is the Deputy Chief Executive Officer (Coordination & Development), SME Corporation Berhad.After serving the Accountant-General’s Department in 1986, he began his career with Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) inApril 1987 and has held numerous key appointments in various departments within BNM and external organisationsincluding Cagamas Berhad and ERF Sdn. Bhd. Prior to his secondment to SMIDEC, Encik Mahdi served as Director,DFI Supervision Department, BNM overseeing the supervision of development financial institutions and informationsystems of institutions under the purview of BNM. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree in Accountancy from theSouth Australian Institute of Technology, Adelaide (now known as University of South Australia. He is a CharteredAccountant of the Malaysian Institute of Accountants since November 1989 and has represented BNM on the MalaysianAccounting Standards Board from 2006 to 2008; Financial Reporting Foundation in 2009 and Small Debt ResolutionCommittee since 2004.

SPEAKERS’ PROFILENICHOLAS SHARIFF MAZLAN COLLINS is currently the Vice President of Industry Development at the Halal IndustryDevelopment Corporation Sdn. Bhd., the government agency mandate to position Malaysia as the global centre ofexcellence and investment for the Halal industry. He qualified as a Chartered Quantity Surveyor in the UK and is aMember of the Malaysian Institute of Management. His responsibilities at HDC include developing strategies andpolicies to attract investment into the Halal sector, development programmes for SMEs and to lead trade and investmentmissions for the agency. Prior to HDC, he has worked for a number of large and small corporations in the UK, Singaporeand Malaysia, primarily in the areas of marketing and media including MDeC, ASTRO and has been involved in helpingset up a number of SMEs. In UK he spent 6 years working for a QS firm handling a number of development projects inthe City of London. He returned to Malaysia in 1994. His areas of interest in HDC are to grow investment opportunitiesas well as to look at issues affecting Supply Chain Management from Farm to fork.

If undelivered please return to:AGRITECH & BIOTECH INVESTMENTSFORUM 201030 March 2010ASIAN STRATEGY & LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE1718 Jalan Ledang, Off Jalan Duta,50480 Kuala LumpurTel: +(603) 2093 5393Website: www.asli.com.myREGISTRATION FEESNormal Registration FeeRM1400 per delegate(NOTE: Fee includes lunch, refreshments & conference materials/documentation)Special Group Discount(NOTE: For a group of 3 pax or more)Government OfficialsRelevant Associations/AcademiciansRM1200 per delegateRM1000 per delegateRM950 per delegateVENUEPutra World Trade Centre, Kuala LumpurPAYMENTThe fee must be paid in advance of the event. Walk-in delegates with payment will beadmitted on ‘space availability’ basis. Cheques or bankdrafts should be crossed andmade payable to Asian Strategy & Leadership Incorporated Sdn Bhd.FOR PRIVATE SECTORThe organisers reserve the right to stop any registered delegate from taking part inthe event if no proof of payment can be presented. This only applies to registereddelegates who have NOT paid the registration fees prior to the event date.FOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALSA Local Order (LO) or letter of approval to participate must be presented before theevent.SUBSTITUTION/CANCELLATIONSubstitution is allowed for a registered delegate. Please note that all payments must bemade prior to the event proper. For cancellations, a refund minus 10% service charge willbe sent to the said delegates if cancellation is received in WRITING by 16th March 2010.No refund will be made for cancellation received after 16th March 2010.REGISTRATIONSend/fax this entire form (or a photocopy) to:ASIAN STRATEGY & LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE (ASLI)1718, Jalan Ledang, Off Jalan Duta, 50480 Kuala LumpurTel: 2093 5393 Fax: 2093 3078 Toll-free: 1 800 88 3096www.asli.com.myFor registration or further information, kindly contact:Aini SalwaGeneral Line: +(603) 2093 5393 ext. 216Direct Line: +(603) 2093 7393Email: aini@asli.com.myFAIDZAL OTHMANGeneral Line: +(603) 2093 5393 ext. 207Direct Line: +(603) 2093 2977Email: faidzal@asli.com.myFor sponsorship opportunities, kindly contact:Max SayDirect Line: +(603) 2093 5698Email: maxsay@asli.com.my