Yesterday, we students of BeST programme were divided to two groups for industrial visit. Each group visited a biotechnology company. The two companies were Stellagen Sdn. Bhd. and Inno Biologics (InnoBio) Sdn. Bhd. I was assigned the group which paid a visit to Stellagen.
Stellagen is a biotechnology company that markets StellarLacTM, which has gone through a 12 years research in University Putra Malaysia.
This product is a multi-strain probioti that consists of four species of Lactobacillus, namely L. brevis, L. salivarius, L. gallinarun and L. reuteri, which are isolated from the natural microflora in the intestines of healthy chickens.
Probiotic is defined as a substance that contains bacteria that are beneficial to the host organism. Conventionally, antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) were incorporated into chicken feed to improve health and growth of chickens. However AGPS were banned from being used as animal feed in several countries due to three main concerns: (1) causing antibiotic leftover in chicken products, (2) resulting in antibiotic-resistant bacteria flourish in the chickens, and (3) leading to higher antibiotic-resistant human diseases. Hence, this product containing probiotics are natural substitutes for antibiotic growth promoters. This company has been established in 2002 by Mr. Nur Hilmy Ahmad with five to ten employees.
A visit to Stellagen was an eye-opening experience. As the Chinese saying goes: thousands of miles of traveling is better than so many books' reading, the manufacturing process of the company was understood after the industrial trip. The process was divided into four stages: fermentation, centrifugation, freeze-drying, and packaging. Each step has to be conducted carefully to increase survival rate of living bacteria.
The importance of intellectual property in a company that markets products of innovative ideas to safeguard its product from being infringed by unscrupulous parties was also learned. In addition, the vital elements to start up a business were comprehended, which are a good idea or product, skills, motivation, determination, confidence, education and experience.
In a nutshell, this industrial visit provided an insight on how a biotechnology company works and helpful information related to practical facets which cannot be envisaged in lectures. Be Bold. Be Daring. Shoot for the Moon. This will be the motto for one to be successful in setting up a company.
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