KOTA KINABALU: Sabah is now open to developing the guarana plant, a species deemed ‘dangerous’ in many parts of the world including Malaysia, despite rejecting the idea in 2022.

State Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food Industry Minister Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan said if experts can determine that this plant is not harmful to other crops and commodities and prove its value, they might consider allowing it to be cultivated here.

However, it also depends on federal and state provisions whether to allow this plant to be cultivated in Sabah, he said at a press conference for the first Borneo International Guarana Conference 2024 (BIGC 2024) from Sept 24 to Sept 25.

The main theme of the BIGC is to discuss leveraging guarana for sustainable agriculture while fostering innovation and economic development.

Kitingan who is Deputy Chief Minister I, said a thorough study is needed with the input of experts in various fields to find out whether the guarana is suitable for cultivation in Sabah, without disrupting or destroying other existing commodity plants such as rubber.

“But if the guarana passed all inspections and were proved to have high economic value, it would be a shame if some other parties ‘hijacked’ the development project,” said Kitingan.

“So I am excited to see what this conference brings, what the experts say and find out more about this plant,” he added.

He has heard much about its economic potential and so-called pharmaceutical uses, but unfortunately, there is no official green light on its cultivation in the country.

“I also heard that it’s planted everywhere here in Malaysia, in our jungles. So I hope to get answers,” Kitingan stated.

He said as long as there was a grey area, participants, especially rural folks and agriculture players, would not have the confidence to plant, develop and market the guarana.

According to medical research, side effects of guarana if taken too much may include insomnia, hypertension and anxiety, among other things, similar to caffeine for some individuals. Some benefits include greater alertness in some individuals, with some anti-inflammatory and pain relief effects.

In January 2022, Kitingan stated that the Sabah government had no plans to develop this plant in Sabah and advised the public to stay away from any scheme that allegedly promotes the guarana.

Kitingan had said the guarana, which is native to South America, is classified as a dangerous plant due to its vulnerability to the fungal disease known as South America Leaf Blight (SALB).

He said any new agriculture product to be introduced in Sabah must first go through the research, development and commercialisation processes, none of which the guarana has undergone.

He said the SALB is the most destructive disease of plants, which is presently confined mainly to South America and the Caribbean Islands.

Kitingan had stated that the disease damaged a large portion of the rubber industry in South America and Central America, and Sabah, which has 195,000 hectares of rubber plantation, could not afford to risk the disease crippling its rubber industry.

BIGC 2024 is organised by Cupana Holding Sdn Bhd in collaboration with Koperasi Star Sabah Berhad and Azman Hashim International Business School, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia.

The theme of the conference, "Guarana: A Catalyst for Sustainable Agriculture and Economic Growth," reflects its focus on leveraging guarana to advance sustainable agricultural practices while fostering innovation and economic development.

The conference will feature keynote addresses, expert panels, and interactive sessions, with discussions centred around guarana’s role in the future of agriculture and its potential impact on local and global economies.

Notable speakers will include Seth Garfield, historian from the University of Texas, alongside leading academic experts, ecologists, and agricultural specialists who will share their insights on sustainability, innovation, and the opportunities guarana presents for the agricultural sector.

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2024/09/17/sabah-may-cultivate-this-dangerous-plant-if-proven-harmless-to-other-crops