Honeyomics and Industrialisation of Madu Kelulut as a Health Supplement: Are We Ready for Scale-Up?

Abstract

Ethnomedicinal uses of honey value its nutritional and medicinal properties to attain general health, diseases prevention or treatment for particular illness. Madu kelulut or stingless bee honey is produced by Meliponini species and the honey referred as superfood in Malaysia. The honey is a complete natural food product that provide safe source of energy via low GI trehalulose sugar, nourished with nutrients, vitamins, amino acids and good bacteria that is formed via unique natural pot-bioreactor processing. The honey is gaining attention for its high antioxidant levels, antimicrobial properties, anti-inflammatory, unique composition and taste. Studies revealed multiple foundations and evidence-based that the madu kelulut is highly beneficial for human possessing a promising niche in the health supplement industry with economic importance projected up to USD700 million in local markets. Honeyomics of madu kelulut aims at understanding the economic importance factors that contribute to the entire mark-up of madu kelulut as general guides for standards and the functional properties of madu kelulut. Several milestones (2005-2023) have been achieved which acknowledge the strategic development and ecosystem for the madu kelulut industry in Malaysia. Further efforts to safeguards the quality and authenticity of stingless bee honey via modernisation, capacity building and market expansion could encourage for scale-up and solidifying Malaysia's position as a key player in the global stingless bee honey industry, providing economic benefits while preserving natural resources for future generations.