On 20 November 2025, Biotropics Malaysia Berhad hosted 32 international and local delegates for a factory visit and knowledge-sharing session. The visit was organised by the Department of Agriculture Malaysia and the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT).
The session focused on regional collaboration: high-value economic herbs, sustainable propagation and responsible commercialisation along the agricultural value chain.
Biotropics shared how it turns Tongkat Ali root into Physta®, a standardised extract that goes into clinically studied supplements for Malaysia and for export. Products made with Physta reach customers and partners in the United States, Japan, South Korea, the Middle East, Africa, Australia and other markets where demand for Southeast Asian botanicals is growing.
From root to extract
Delegates followed the full path: Tongkat Ali root collected by trained gatherers, checks on the raw material, extraction, laboratory testing, formulation and clinical research. Biotropics also showed how its standardised extracts, Physta® and BioKesum®, become finished products, including the Nu-Prep® range, and ingredients sold to brands abroad.
Why Biotropics took part
Biotropics was invited to share its experience in responsible root sourcing, research partnerships and extract standardisation. Progress in the herb value chain comes from a whole ecosystem: forest gatherers, processors, researchers, analysts, universities and industry, working to give Southeast Asian herbs a place in global wellness and ingredient markets.
About the Department of Agriculture Malaysia and IMT-GT
The Department of Agriculture Malaysia leads crop development, research, farmer capability building and the move from raw agricultural material to higher-value products.
IMT-GT is a cooperation programme set up in 1993 by Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand to strengthen economic ties. Agriculture and agro-based industry are priority sectors. Its agenda includes:
- Collaboration between government, business, universities and civil society for technology transfer, knowledge exchange and regional capacity
- Value-added and knowledge-intensive crops, produced sustainably
- Small and medium enterprises in cross-border agro-industry supply chains, with more regional trade and investment
- Sustainable crop propagation and responsible movement of agricultural raw materials across the region
Biotropics thanks the Department of Agriculture Malaysia and the IMT-GT organisers for the invitation.
