Abd Latif (right) receiving the trophy and certificate from Wan Junaidi.

21 December 2017 (Thursday) – Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) was selected as the recipient of the Best Achievement Award 2016-2017 (Innovation Champion) awarded by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (NRE) recently.

The NRE Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar presented the trophy and special recognition certificate to FRIM Director General Dato’ Dr Abd Latif Mohmod during the 1NRE monthly assembly held at the Department of Survey and Mapping Malaysia (JUPEM), Kuala Lumpur (KL) on 19 December.

From left: Wan Junaidi, Abd Latif, Marzalina and Azharizan posing for a picture at the ceremony.

The Minister also presented a Malaysia Book of Records (MBR) certificate to FRIM Forestry Biotechnology Division Director Dato’ Dr Marzalina Mansor for the ‘First Synthetic Timber Seed to Survive Cryopreservation’ through her research as well as the Citra Sahabat Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) Award for the Public Sector to Research Officer Azharizan Mohamad Norizan.

Marzalina received the MBR recognition based on her research, which produced the first synthetic seed preserved using the cryopreservation technique for tropical wood species: mahogany. This finding is important for the long-term storage of seeds for ex-situ conservation.
The mahogany seeds produced from her research were planted in the FRIM campus and one of them is a 22-year-old healthy tree. It grows normally like other trees and without showing any sign mutation. This study showed the suitability of this technique for the conservation of tropical tree species.

Marzalina received the MBR certificate from MBR Deputy General Manager Mohamad Alex Edward at the MBR office in KL on 24 October.

Marzalina with the mahogany tree from a seed produced using the cryopreservation technique.

Marzalina (right) with Mohamad Alex at the MBR office.