Musang King Durian: A Malaysian Delicacy Crowned with Geographical Indication

Do you know how to identify Musang King durian?

In the lush landscapes of Malaysia, where the climate is as diverse as its culture, grows a fruit that has transcended its humble beginnings to become a global sensation. The Musang King durian, known locally as Raja Kunyit, is not just a fruit; it's a symbol of Malaysian pride and agricultural prowess. This blog post delves into the journey of Musang King from its origin to its recognition as a geographical indication in 2014, a testament to its unparalleled quality and unique provenance.

The Origins of Musang King Durian

The world of durians, often reverred as "King of Fruits," is rich with variety and history, none more fascinating than the tale of Musang King, a variety that has taken the fruit market by storm. At the heart of this durian dynasty is the Raja Kunyit which literally means turmeric king.

The durian was originally given the name "Kunyit" by Chung Chun Seng, the founder of this durian tree in the late 18th century, according to The Star. Before the tree died, Wee Chong Beng planted this durian in Tanah Merah, Kelantan. The Department of Agriculture registered the durian variety as D197 and acknowledge Wee Chong Beng as the breeder.

The durian gained popularity, and it is  grown in Gua Musang. Tan Lai Fook brought a branch of Raja Kunyit tree from Gua Musang and grafted it to his durian tree in Raub, according to Wong Pui Yan, a researcher. Tan called it 'mao sheng wang' (毛生王).

Tina Chong: The Musang Queen

Tina Chong Yok Fong from Gua Musang, a formidable figure in the durian industry, played a pivotal role in popularizing the Musang King name, according to Berita Harian. The Chinese term 'mao shan wang' (猫山王) which literally means civet king is also promoted. Her dedication to the cultivation and promotion of this variety has earned her the moniker "Musang Queen." Tina's efforts in transitioning her orchard to predominantly Musang King trees have significantly contributed to the variety's fame and the high regard it holds today.

The Crowning Glory: Geographical Indication

In a move that solidified Musang King's status, the Malaysian government registered it as a geographical indication (GI) on March 13, 2014. This registration under GI2014-00001 recognizes the durian's specific geographical origin and the qualities that arise from it. The GI protects the name Musang King, ensuring that only durians grown in Malaysia that meet the stringent quality standards can bear this prestigious title.

The Musang King Experience

Musang King durians are celebrated for their buttery texture, robust flavor, and a hint of bitterness that durian aficionados cherish. The durian's husk is a dusky green with a distinctive star shape at the bottom, and its flesh—a deep, vibrant yellow—delivers a taste experience that is both complex and satisfying.

A Fruit with a Future

The Musang King durian's journey from a local delicacy to an internationally recognized brand is a narrative of Malaysian innovation and dedication. As the durian continues to captivate palates around the world, the geographical indication serves as a promise of quality and authenticity—a promise that Malaysia proudly upholds.

As we celebrate the Musang King, we also acknowledge the individuals like Wee Chong Beng, Tan Lai Fook and Tina Chong, whose passion and hard work have propelled this fruit to global acclaim. The Musang King durian is not just a fruit; it's a legacy that Malaysia will cherish and protect for years to come.

CPTPP as of 21 Feb 2018

The legally verified text of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) was released on 21 Feb 2018 by New Zealand government (https://www.mfat.govt.nz/en/trade/free-trade-agreements/free-trade-agreements-concluded-but-not-in-force/cptpp/comprehensive-and-progressive-agreement-for-trans-pacific-partnership-text/)

According to Chapter 18 Intellectual Property of the agreement:
- introduction of sound marks
- patent term adjustment (to compensate the patent owner) for unreasonable curtailment (of pharmaceutical product as a result of marketing approval process)
- biologics (protection of data)
- watch system for pharmaceutical patent owner
- copyright term adjustment to life of author plus 70 years after death or 70 years (certain works)
- border measures to suspend suspected counterfeit goods
- Malaysia must accede  Madrid Protocol, Budapest Treaty, Singapore Treaty, and UPOV

Sowing the seeds of success

WITH 44 years of experience in research and development, Felda Agricultural Services Sdn Bhd is undeniably a market leader in oil palm planting materials in the country.

Felda Agricultural Services the technical arm of the Felda Group and associate company of Felda Global Ventures Holdings Bhd (FGV) raked in RM85mil from selling planting materials last year, and registered more than RM100mil in profits per annum for four consecutive years (2008-2011).

“We have a unique model. Although we are an R&D unit, we operate like a business entity and we are responsible for our own profit and loss,” itschief executive officer S. Palaniappan tells StarBizWeek.

Palaniappan says that Felda Agricultural Services' R&D activities are funded by its earnings, which is also paid out as dividends to its major shareholders Felda Holdings Bhd (a 49%-owned subsidiary of FGV) and Koperasi Permodalan Felda.

The company also invests about RM50mil-RM60mil annually in R&D, which covers oil palm breeding, biotechnology, tissue culture, molecular markers, applied technology and downstream processes.

The bulk of Felda Agricultural Services' revenue comes from selling planting materials and fresh fruit bunches from its research stations nationwide. In a year, Felda Agricultural Services produces an average of 25 million germinated seeds, says Palaniappan.

About 75% to 80% of the planting materials it produces are sold to other planters like Tradewinds Plantation Bhd, TH Plantations Bhd and Sarawak-based Rimbunan Hijau Group, while the remainder is sold to Felda plantations.

Overall, Felda Agricultural Services has captured 35% of the domestic planting materials market, according to Palaniappan.

Award-winner

‘It takes a long time to build a reputation. When people buy, plant and see the results they want, they will return. The product speaks for itself,’ says Felda Agricultural Services CEO S. Palaniappan.

Over the past nine years, Felda Yangambi has become an iconic oil palm seed brand, says Palaniappan. “We sold 26.5 million Felda Yangambiseeds last year.”

From 2008 to 2012, Felda Yangambiwon the Brand Laureate SMEs chapter awards for best brand in product branding, oil palm germinated seed and brand innovation.

The brand is so valuable that it has been pirated, Palaniappan says. “To ensure that clients get genuine seeds, we have incorporated security features like the hologram which enables traceability. The packaging also carries the Felda logo.”

The new Felda Seed Delivery and Security System for packaging and labelling retains all integral data of the seed, which will also ensure originality and traceability in the event of quality issues as well as reduce the risk of falsification.

The company is also looking into automating some of the seedling processing methods.

“This is a labour intensive industry but we have designed and developed machines that could help speed up the processes and to reduce our reliance on manual input,” says Palaniappan.

What makes the seed highly sought after is its ability to produce crops with desirable traits.

“It takes a long time to build a reputation. When people buy, plant and see the results they want, they will return. The product speaks for itself,” he says.

And for clients in Peninsular Malaysia, Felda Agricultural Services delivers seed orders to their doorstep.

Good business

The planting materials business is lucrative, says Palaniappan. “The margins are good because clients pay for your intellectual property,” he says.

Felda Agricultural Services has a biotechnology centre in Nilai, Negri Sembilan, which focuses on producing oil palm clones from tissue culture, DNA fingerprinting and profiling, and charting molecular markers for specific traits for use in marker-assisted breeding and to improve the cloning process.

It plans to introduce a “three-way cross” a new hybridisation planting material incorporating the Deli Dura, Nigerian Prospectus Material andYangambi strains. This new hybrid is currently under pilot testing and will be in the market in two to three years' time. “To be a market leader, we must be one step ahead others,” he says.

In the future, Felda Agricultural Services will release oil palm clones with specific traits such as virescence (green coloration in plant parts normally not green), Ganoderma tolerance, and compact palm.

Palaniappan says the palm fruit colour changing from green to orange would allow workers to identify and harvest ripe fruits with ease, as only ripe fruits can improve the oil extraction rate by 1% to 3%. Planters can improve their yields through better identification of ripe fruits.

“There is a lot of money involved in getting the right crop,” he says. - StarBiz

Global IP Filings Continue to Grow: Plant Variety Protection

Between 1995 and 2011, the number of plant variety applications7 worldwide increased from 10,000 to over 14,000. In 2011, they grew by 7.8% - the fastest growth since 2007. Growth in applications in Israel and the Community Plant Variety Office (CPVO) of the European Union (EU) accounted for 60% of the total growth in 2011.

The CPVO received the largest number of applications (3,184), followed by the offices of China (1,255), the US (1,139), Japan (1,126) and Ukraine (1,095). - WIPO