Bioeconomy Community Development Programme (BCDP) is the lead component of Bio-Accelerator programme under Bioeconomy Transformation programme (BTP). BTP is a platform for the private sector to channel and maximise commercial opportunities in bio-based industries. BCDP involves the enlistment of rural farmers and settlers to cultivate raw materials potentially as inputs for BioNexus companies and BTP project owners. The proposed contract farming mechanism with guaranteed buyback will generate additional income for the programme participants. It also provides a foundation for the upstream and downstream portion of the Bioeconomy industry supply chain.

Mandate from YAB Prime Minister in Malaysia’s Budget 2014, paragraph 71:

“…to increase competitiveness and the contribution of Bioeconomy to economic growth, the Government will implement the Bioeconomy Community Development Programme. Under the programme, idle lands will be developed through the application of biotechnology as well as for contract farming to increase the value-added of the agro-based industry and income of farmers”

The main objectives of BCDP are:-

• To ensure stable and consistent supply of raw materials and extracts of bio-ingredients
• To increase revenue of BioNexus status companies and/or BTP trigger projects through sustainable supply of raw materials from cooperatives/farmers through contract farming
• To developed unskilled farmers into bio-agropreneurs and enhance social mobility through technology-based entrepreneurship
• To maximise idle lands through application of biotechnology