Kuala Lumpur: The digital platform, HerbaXpress, an innovation by the Forest Research Institute of Malaysia (FRIM), has brought together more than 7,000 herbal industry players, marking its status as the largest herbal directory in Malaysia.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the industry participants encompass various segments of the value chain, including plant material suppliers, growers, producers, manufacturers for other companies, wholesalers, retailers, and service providers. "HerbaXpress can be accessed via https://herbaxpress.frim.gov.my> and functions as a one-stop digital ecosystem, not only for product promotion but also as a reference for industry data, geographical mapping of industry players, and a species-based market matching system," the institute stated.
The platform's global reach is evident, with Google Analytics indicating that HerbaXpress is used as a reference by users from countries such as the United States, China, India, and Canada. Besides the website, HerbaXpress, a high-impact digital platform resulting from research initiated in 2014, also features a mobile application available for download via Apple Store and Google Play.
As FRIM's inaugural mobile application developed using in-house expertise, it achieved national recognition by securing the MTE 2022 Public Service Innovation Award. This accolade underscores FRIM's dedication to transforming research outcomes into market-ready solutions through digital innovation. FRIM Director-General Datuk Dr Ismail Parlan noted that HerbaXpress is the primary outcome of FRIM's research project titled "Herbal Industry Value Chain Study," funded by the NKEA EPP1 Special Grant from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.
"This project has prompted the development of an integrated database system for the herbal industry, which has subsequently evolved into a decision support system and digital platform to support industry mapping and enhance the marketing of local herbal products. HerbaXpress demonstrates that FRIM excels not only in research but also in bridging the gap between knowledge and the market," he remarked.
According to FRIM, a commercialization licensing agreement signed in October 2024 with FRIM Incorporated Sdn Bhd and Digital Dagang Sdn Bhd has paved the way for the integration of the HerbaXpress database with the e-commerce platform, resulting in the creation of Herba CartSini. Herba CartSini serves as a digital marketplace for quality herbal products screened and verified by FRIM's expertise, making it the first e-commerce platform in Malaysia to emphasize quality assurance, transparency, and compliance with regulatory standards.
"HerbaXpress and Herba CartSini transcend being mere technology platforms; they are symbols of the nation's capacity to develop a sustainable and resilient biodiversity-based economic system. They support the country's bioeconomy policy and exemplify the success of public research in generating tangible impacts on society and the economy," FRIM stated.