Latest news with #FarmByteSdnBhd
The Sun
07-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Johor launches Malaysia's largest high-tech vertical farm
ISKANDAR PUTERI: Johor has officially opened Malaysia's largest high-tech vertical farming facility, covering 50,000 square feet, to grow leafy greens using advanced agricultural technology. The RM40 million project is a collaboration between FarmByte Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Johor Corporation (JCorp), and Singapore-based agri-tech firm Archisen Pte Ltd. Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi described the facility as a strategic development within the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ). Located at Nusajaya Industrial Park, the farm began construction in 2023 and is now fully operational, producing crops such as ice plant salad. 'This is a historic milestone for Johor, Malaysia, and Singapore. What began as a pioneering idea two years ago has now become a reality. This isn't just an agricultural project - it is a new ecosystem that strengthens regional food security,' Onn Hafiz said during the launch ceremony. The facility integrates large-scale infrastructure with smart farming systems, enabling year-round production of high-quality leafy greens. Using controlled environment agriculture (CEA) technology, the farm operates without pesticides and is unaffected by weather conditions. With an estimated annual yield of 306,000 kilogrammes, the farm aligns with Malaysia's National Food Security Policy Action Plan and Singapore's '30 by 30' initiative, which aims to produce 30 per cent of its nutritional needs locally by 2030. FarmByte and Archisen are in discussions with other companies to expand operations and develop a regional vertical farming network. 'They aim to scale up operations and establish a comprehensive farming network. We hope this will be realised soon, with strong support from all stakeholders,' Onn Hafiz added. Key figures present at the launch included Archisen director Vincent Wei, JCorp chairman Datuk Syed Mohamed Syed Ibrahim, and State Investment, Trade, Consumer Affairs and Human Resources Committee chairman Lee Ting Han. – Bernama
New Straits Times
21-04-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
JS-SEZ crucial lifeline for regional businesses amid rising trade row, says Singapore DPM
JOHOR BARU: The Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) offers a crucial lifeline for regional businesses to bolster supply chain resilience amid rising global trade tensions, said Singapore Deputy Prime Minister and Trade and Industry Minister Gan Kim Yong. Delivering his keynote address at the JS-SEZ joint business and investment forum in the Persada Johor International Convention Centre here today, Gan said the escalating United States-China trade war had disrupted trade between the world's two largest economies, causing ripple effects on businesses in Southeast Asia. "The JS-SEZ presents an opportunity for businesses to strengthen supply chains so they can better respond to volatility and continue growing," he said, calling the initiative "important and timely" in the face of growing global protectionism. The JS-SEZ, encompassing 3,571sq km of southern Johor, aims to streamline cross-border investment, simplify Customs processes, and improve people and goods movement. It targets high-impact sectors including advanced manufacturing, logistics, and the digital economy. Gan cited examples of companies leveraging the zone's advantages, including: * Singapore-based agritech firm Archisen Pte Ltd, which has partnered with Johor Corp's FarmByte Sdn Bhd to build a smart indoor farm in Nusajaya, and is producing about 300 tonnes of leafy greens annually. * Singapore's Agrocorp International, in collaboration with Japan's Megmilk Snow Brand Co Ltd, is setting up a plant-protein facility in Tanjung Langsat to manufacture 6,000 tonnes of sustainable protein isolates from pulses annually. * South Korea's SPC Group has split its operations, with a halal manufacturing plant in Johor and its research and development and headquarters based in Singapore. Singapore has set up a dedicated JS-SEZ project office via the Trade and Industry, Enterprise Singapore and Singapore economic Development board to assist its companies in tapping the zone. This complements Malaysia's Invest Malaysia Facilitation Centre in Johor. Gan said there was a need for Malaysia and Singapore to "double down" on connectivity, regulatory streamlining and workforce development to attract more investment, including from businesses not yet present in either country. Present at the forum were Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz, his deputy, Liew Chin Tong, and Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi. The event featured panels on regional wealth creation, investment attraction, and supply chain resilience in Asean. Gan concluded that the JS-SEZ, by acting as a bridge between both economies, held the potential to create quality jobs and bolster the region's resilience against evolving trade dynamics.
