Profile

Dr. CHAN YING KWOK
Malaysian Agrifood Cooperation Bhd. (MAFC)

Dr. Chan Ying Kwok graduated with a Bachelor of Agric. Sc. (Hons.) from the University of Malaya in 1972; Masters in Horticultural Science from the University of California (Davis) in 1979 and Doctor of Philosophy in Genetics from the University of Malaya in 1995. He started his career in plant breeding at the Malaysian Agricultural and Research Institute (MARDI) in 1972. He was the Head of Fruit Breeding from 1983-1992 and the Deputy Director of Horticultural Research from 1993-2006. He joined the Malaysian AgriFood Corporation (MAFC) as Head of Research and Development in 2006 and had worked there since.

Dr Chan Ying Kwok is a renowned fruit breeder in Malaysia, particularly for his research and development of papaya and pineapple. He is responsible for the development of the Eksotika papayas that made Malaysia a prominent papaya exporter in the world in the 90’s with export revenue of RM 120 million annually. In pineapple breeding, he developed the Josapine and Maspine varieties which are good quality table varieties.  Josapine is the world’s first commercial pineapple hybrid and the most popular variety in the country today estimated to be worth RM60 million annually. His breeding techniques used for papaya and pineapple breeding such as the backcross breeding for developing Eksotika papaya and hybridization techniques for breeding Eksotika 2 and Josapine pineapple were pioneering work and has paved the way for others to follow and are now standard breeding tools for these two fruits in the world today.

His current expertise extends beyond his respected past as an accomplished plant breeder and covers the more holistic integrated supply chain in production and marketing of fresh fruit and vegetables. At MAFC, Dr. Chan has also been involved in the development of certification for Skim Amalan Ladang Baik (SALM), Carrefour Quality Line (CQL) and Global GAP. This involves good agricultural practices, food safety and environmental care and sustainability in fruits and vegetables production. The Frangi papaya was developed at MAFC and branded under the name `Paiola’ and is now grown at Lanchang (Pahang), Kuala Pilah (Negri Sembilan), Bukit Tangga (Kedah) and Kota Tinggi (Johor). It is registered under the Malaysian Plant Variety Protection Act in 2010 and was nominated for the Berlin Fruit Logistica Innovation Award 2009. His current research interest is in the development of papaya varieties with resistance to Erwinia dieback.

His research on papaya and pineapple breeding is recognized worldwide and he has been invited to speak in many national and international symposia and conferences as keynote and lead speakers. He was awarded the MARDI Research Excellence Awards in 1984, 1997 and 2004, the Kesatria Mangku Negara (KMN) from the King in 1997, Toray Science and Technology Award in 2000, MARDI Horticulture Writer’s Awards 2000-2002, International Invention, Innovation, Industrial Design & Technology (ITEX) Bronze Medal in 2004 and the MARDI Science and Technology Innovation & Commercialization Gold Medal in 2005. He was appointed Fellow of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia in 2011 and Research Fellow of the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI) in 2012.