New Research Advances Sustainable Tongkat Ali Cultivation
Sustainability isn’t just planting more Tongkat Ali. It’s understanding how to grow it successfully.
As global demand for Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma longifolia) continues to rise, sustainability discussions are evolving beyond conservation toward how the species is replanted, integrated, and managed to ensure long-term quality and supply resilience.
A recent study published in Frontiers in Plant Physiology by researchers from Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) provides timely scientific insight into the early growth responses of Tongkat Ali, offering practical guidance for replanting and integrated planting systems.
The researchers investigated how young Tongkat Ali plants respond to different light intensities and water regimens, focusing on growth parameters such as plant height, stem diameter, biomass accumulation, and root-to-shoot ratios. The study found that excessive shading significantly reduced overall growth performance, highlighting the importance of adequate light availability during the establishment phase. While plants exhibited adaptive shifts in biomass allocation — particularly toward root development — these adjustments were not sufficient to offset growth limitations under low-light conditions.
These findings are particularly relevant for cultivation strategies that aim to recreate forest-like environments. Although Tongkat Ali is naturally associated with tropical forests, the research suggests that young plants require more open light conditions before gradual integration into shaded or multi-layered systems.
3 Practical Implications for Replanting and Integrated Planting
The researchers identified three practical implications for replanting and integrated planting of Tongkat Ali:
- Light management is critical during early growth. When replanting or intercropping, planting sites should allow sufficient light penetration. Dense canopy cover too early may compromise plant vigor and long-term development.
- Water management should align with light conditions. The interaction between light and water availability means that irrigation strategies must be carefully calibrated, particularly in shaded environments where stress factors can compound.
- Root development serves as a key indicator of plant resilience. Monitoring root mass and root-to-shoot balance can provide early signals of how well plants are adapting to their environment, with implications for survival, nutrient uptake, and future phytochemical quality.
These insights reinforce the importance of intentional system design when integrating Tongkat Ali into agroforestry or mixed-planting landscapes.
Bridging Research and Field Implementation
Bridging research and real-world practice requires long-term commitment, not one-off activities. At Biotropics Malaysia Berhad (developer and producer of LJ100® Tongkat Ali), this commitment is expressed through the Plant a Tree, Plant a Future initiative — an approach that connects national sustainability efforts with research-led field implementation.
The initiative first took shape through Biotropics’ participation in Malaysia’s 100 Million Trees Campaign, in collaboration with the Forestry Department of Peninsular Malaysia. This nationwide program aimed to restore green cover and promote environmental awareness, highlighting the role of trees in improving air quality, reducing urban heat, and supporting biodiversity. The campaign successfully reached its planting target ahead of schedule in November 2024, laying a strong foundation for subsequent, more targeted cultivation efforts.
Building on this momentum, Biotropics formalized its research-driven sustainability agenda through a Letter of Intent (LOI) with Association of Academic Officers of Universiti Putra Malaysia (Persatuan Pegawai Akademik Universiti Putra Malaysia, PPAUPM) for the “Sustainability Impact Study of Tongkat Ali and Related Biotropics Products with Biotropics Malaysia Berhad” Program. The LOI established a shared commitment to advancing sustainable Tongkat Ali cultivation through scientific collaboration, knowledge exchange, and practical field application.
Following the signing of the LOI, this collaboration was translated into action through the Denai 2.0 program, a hands-on sustainability initiative involving researchers, industry professionals, and students. As part of the program, 130 Tongkat Ali saplings were planted at the Sultan Idris Shah Forestry Education Centre (Puchong, Selangor, Malaysia) using planting designs informed by research and intended to replicate forest-like growing conditions.
HP Ingredients is the exclusive distributor of LJ100® patented Tongkat Ali extract from Biotropics Malaysia Berhad.
Reference
Rowshanaie H, et al. Conservation and domestication of young tongkat ali (Eurycoma longifolia Jack) via evaluating root and shoot traits by combining different light intensities and water levels.
Frontiers in Plant Physiology. 2026 February; 3:1702781.
