SGS extends field trial capabilities in Malaysia

With the opening of a new 2.88-hectare field trial station at Bertam, Kepala Batas, on Pulau Pinang, Malaysia, SGS is aiming to extend its geographical reach and offer customers a wider range of services.

In 2015, SGS undertook field trials in the country, and with the opening of this new dedicated field research center at Bertam can now provide an in-house resource for trials in paddy rice and crops under arable and protected conditions in a greenhouse.

This new field research center enables SGS to provide a full range of robust trial packages to clients, including:
•    Good Agricultural Practice
•    Regulatory trials, e.g. efficacy and residues
•    Demonstration plots
•    Insect resistance monitoring
•    Training for farmers

This expansion in field trial facilities comes at a fortuitous time. The Malaysian Government currently specifies that five crops require regulatory trials: oil palm, rubber, rice, cocoa, and black pepper, but there is an expectation that this requirement will be extended to incorporate other crop groups. The new site at Bertam is ideally placed to help agrochemical companies to fulfill their requirements in product development, thereby enhancing the technologies transferred to local growers.

SGS experts at the research station have more than 20 years experience in R&D field and greenhouse trials. Following the efforts of our team, the new site is operational and we are readyfor the 2016 growing cycle.