Norsym Sdn Bhd is a startup company formed under NCIA-MTDC Symbiosis program

incubated by Malaysian Technology Development Corporation (MTDC) with the collaboration

of Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA).Under the biotechnology cluster, Norsym
Sdn Bhd are commercializing the “mass propagation schizophyllum commune (cendawan kukur)
and nutraseutical product” from the technology owner Malaysian Agricultural Research and
Development Institute (MARDI). The company are producing and supplying mushroom spawn
for mushroom growers. With the technology from MARDI, the company will be able to produce
high quality mushroom spawn for higher yield and uniform quality. This include the knowledge
of preparation or procurement of spawn, substrate preparation, spawning of substrate and crop
management. To produce the mushroom spawn, the technology being used is the submerged
fermentation technique in liquid form. The mushroom industry involves technical know-how,
however, the existing local mushroom industrialists are still practicing obsolete technology and
using mushroom cultures which were developed back in 1970s. According to a report by
Department of Agriculture Malaysia, there were 394 mushroom industrialists in Peninsular
Malaysia in 1987. To date, only less than 20 mushroom industrialists still remain active. The public
has a misconception that the mushroom industry is well established. Nevertheless, the truth is the
mushroom industrialists are facing many problems.

Since the field cultivation of mushroom takes several months to yield the fruiting body,
submerged fermentation is a faster method to produce mycelia biomass of mushroom. It is
accomplished by suspending (or submerging) mushroom inoculums in liquid nutrient media.
Generally, the duration taken by submerged fermentation is about one week for most mushroom
strain, an extremely efficient process in comparison to the traditional method of cultivation namely
solid state fermentation. The optimization of fermentation conditions is an important step in the
development of economically feasible bioprocesses. A successful design of the fermentation
process relies on producing a product to set specification.These goals can be achieved by
optimizing media composition, fermentation conditions and fermentor design. It is an attractive
technology for the production of highly priced natural functional ingredients as well as biomass
propagation. This biotechnological method of production requires satisfactory level of economic
evaluation for commercial and viable application.
 Mushroom industry is identified as one of the National Key Economic Areas (NKEA), 4th
National Agricultural Policy (NAP-4,2011-2015) and Dasar AgroMakanan Negara to boost the
national economy. Under the, mushroom industry was highlighted and aimed to boost its
production from GNI RM58.6 million to RM125 million from 2011 to 2015, and further doubled
up to RM250 million by year 2020. With the existing mushroom industry practices, it would be
quite difficult to achieve the goal unless some major changes are taking place. Norsym Sdn Bhd
is located at Kampung Alor Batu,Jalan Muda Kuari,Mukim Gelong, is a village located in Jitra, in
the state of Kedah Darul Aman, the northern state of Malaysia, and is bordered by Thailand in the
northeast, and is bordered by Perak to the southeast, Penang to the southwest and Perlis the
northern part. The state of Kedah is a known state as an advanced agricultural state in Malaysia,
mainly as the largest rice producer, producing 70% of rice production. Kukur
Mushroom(Schizophyllum commune) is a kind of mushroom on rotary wood from the
Schizophylaceae family.

The family of mushrooms Schizophylaceae has many species that grow on the trunk for
decay. In Malaysia the mushroom from the rubber tree is the most popular type in the quill to be a
great food and nutritious ingredient. Many titles are given to this type of mushroom according to
localities such as Jamur Gerigit (Javanese Muar),Tapak Tiung mushroom (Negeri Sembilan)Kulat
Sisir,Kulat Sisik and many other. Kukur mushroom grows in many types of sticks that are in the
decay process. This mushroom is a shell-shaped shell where it has a base (stem) that sticks to the
sticks firmly. The mushroom color of the kukur mushroom is brownish gray depending on the type
of wood and its surroundings. The size of the mushrooms is between 1 - 4 cm and grows several
days before it becomes dry and dead if left on the trunk. Mushroom mushrooms have a special and
delicious aroma to those who like to smell. Many reports suggest that this mushroom has many
properties including the 'Schizophyllan' material, Anti-tumor and anti-cancer material. This
substance also increases the body's immune and anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-parasitic
levels and helps protect the liver.
 Pleurotus Mushrooms. sp is known as oyster mushroom (oyster) because its entire body shape
is like oysters. This mushroom originally turned wild in the forest, especially on the wooden trunk
or dead wood stumps. Initially the community considered mushroom as a plant that grows on its
own, especially after the rain falls in the rainy season (flowers of thunderbolts). But the present
fact proves that mushrooms can be planted just like other green vegetables by using the right
techniques and controlled seeds. Oyster mushrooms have the advantage of other mushrooms
(edible) in terms of several aspects. First of all, this mushroom can be grown on a wide variety of
agricultural wastes or substrates that are widely available in Malaysia. Examples are rice grains,
rice stems, weeds, coconut fiber, oil palm fiber, sawdust, paper and cotton. Among the above
substrates, only cotton, paper and vacuum are the main preference with average productivity
percentages between 20-30% per kg of dry weight substrate (M. Noor Wahab, 1985). This oyster
mushroom has a variety of species. Among the suitable species grown in Malaysia are Pieurotus
florida (White), Pleurotus sajor-caju(Gray),Pleurotus flabellatus(Pink), Pleurotus cystidiosus (Aba
Ion). Among the oyster mushrooms, Pleurotus sajor-caju (Gray) is preferred as it has a better
economic value.

Mushrooms have been identified as one of the high-value commodities under Malaysia's
National Agro-Food Policy (2011-2020). The development of the mushroom industry has been
intensified in the agriculture transformation program which focuses on further development
through area expansion, increased productivity and supported by R & D for the development of
new varieties and product quality improvement. The mushroom industry in Malaysia is still in its
infancy stage. The commercial industry which started in the 1960s gradually improved. The
industry is increasingly attracting many entrepreneurs, especially the young people who are
persuaded to invest and get involved in the production of mushroom processed products (Mohd
Anim, 2014). Currently, seven varieties of mushrooms are grown commercially in Malaysia. The
most popular varieties are grey oyster mushroom, black jelly, ganoderma, and shitake. Ganoderma
and grey oyster mushrooms are widely grown in lowlands, while the black jelly and shitake
mushrooms are grown in highlands (Mohd Anim, 2014). The agroclimatic conditions in Malaysia
is suitable for cultivation of mushrooms throughout the year. Thus, Malaysia has the potential to
be a large mushroom producer which can compete in the world market. Nevertheless, there are
many issues and challenges faced by this industry.