LETTERS: Rubber is an indispensable raw material. A world without rubber would be scary.
For one, our ability to move around is made a lot easier thanks to rubber tyres.
Recently, the rubber industry has raised concerns about the global rubber supply. There are signs that both natural and synthetic rubber could face supply disruptions.
In the case of synthetic rubber, which is produced from fossil fuel chemicals, it is affected by pressure on the industry from consumers to adopt renewables, as fossil fuel use has been blamed for global climate disruption.
Natural rubber, though it is renewable, is facing the problems of declining productivity, labour shortage and low technology adoption by smallholders.
The fact remains that neither natural nor synthetic rubber alone can satisfy all the performance requirements of rubber products.
For use in high heat and oily environments, only certain types of synthetic rubber can be used.
For applications that have to withstand high heat build-up, like in aviation tyres, natural rubber is irreplaceable.
This is why in most applications both natural and synthetic rubber are used in combination.
Supplying the world with the right rubber for different applications is the biggest challenge as the global rubber products industry shifts away from non-renewables.
The demand for investment in research and development (R&D) to resolve supply disruptions has grown more urgent. Both natural and synthetic rubber need strategic research and development planning and direction.
Demand for natural rubber will increase as the world faces the threat of climate change and global warming.
Research is urgently needed to produce renewables that can match the properties of synthetic rubber. Modifying natural rubber is one option that should be considered.
As the world transitions into a net-zero economy, the global rubber products industry has to move away from non-renewables, including fossil fuel-based synthetic rubber.
Making synthetic rubber from renewable material, such as natural rubber and other natural hydrocarbon sources, should be explored through research and development.
In the case of natural rubber, research should focus on improving productivity, increasing yield and enhancing crop vigour. Research on breeding must be a priority.
Research on productivity improvement should include finding ways to reduce the immaturity period and reduce yield losses due to diseases and other causes.
This may require missions to look for new rubber germplasms.
Labour is another key element in productivity.
Less labour-intensive technology must be developed to reduce the industry's dependence on manual labour, especially in harvesting.
This is why research and development in digitalisation and automation is urgent, involving not only cultivation, but also processing.
In the long term, there is a need to explore changing the model for natural rubber production.
Advancement in biotechnology as a production model must not be overlooked. In rubber product development, R&D should focus on meeting the growing consumer preference for green material. The industry should not avoid investing in developing new ways to produce rubber latex.
Genetic biotechnology now offers the potential to produce designer rubber latex that can be used in more challenging applications.
However, new technology won't be of much use or help if it is not used effectively.
The effective adoption of planting technology by farmers is critical. Past experiences have shown that this is best done directly from researchers to farmers.
Few would dispute that technology transfer and research and development play a crucial role in ensuring the supply of rubber in the world is sustainable, and that it has the right quantity and properties.
This is why R&D focus needs to change.
PROFESSOR DATUK DR AHMAD IBRAHIM
Tan Sri Omar Centre for STI Policy, UCSI University
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times