Words by Isabel O’Brien
While genomics is best known for its role advancing precision medicine, a new award for the life sciences company MGI Tech suggests its potential reaches far beyond the clinic.
The Chinese organisation has been named a Green World Champion for providing its sequencing technology to a project protecting mangrove forests in Thailand. Mangroves are salt-tolerant trees typically found along tropical coastlines and are especially abundant in the country.
The project, delivered in collaboration with the Thai National Omics Center, used MGI’s DNBSEQ™ sequencing platform to map the genetic diversity of 15 native mangrove species. The resulting database is helping scientists understand how these coastal ecosystems adapt to changing conditions such as salinity, rising sea levels and habitat loss, with insights already feeding into national conservation strategies.
While mangroves are often overlooked, they play a vital role in climate resilience by absorbing carbon and shielding coastlines from storms. However, like many ecosystems, they face mounting threats. MGI’s work shows how genomic tools can be harnessed not only for clinical advances but also to tackle biodiversity and sustainability challenges.
“We are honoured to receive the Green World Champion award, which reflects our ongoing commitment to making a positive impact on society and the environment,” said Duncan Yu, President, MGI Tech. “By providing innovative genomic solutions, we aim to promote long-term sustainable development that benefits both the global community and ecosystems.”
Established in 1994, the Green World Awards spotlight international best practice in environmental protection across various sectors. Out of more than 500 entries this year, MGI was among a select few to receive the top accolade, sending a rallying call to fellow pharmaceutical companies to see how they could repurpose their innovation to advance ESG goals.
