Local initiative set to redefine agricultural innovation and bolster food security

FarmByte, a pioneering digital-first agrofood company part of the Johor Corporation (JCorp)Group, has formalised a memorandum of understanding (MoU) withArchisen, a leading agritech company from Singapore. This collaboration aims to establish a groundbreaking joint venture in urban farming.

It will focus on creating an automated vertical indoor farm dedicated to producingAsiangreensin Johor, Malaysia. The MoU, witnessed by the Menteri Besar of Johor, YAB Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi, was sealed by MrSyedAiman Kifli Syed Jaafar, CEO of FarmByte Sdn Bhd, and Mr Vincent Wei, CEO of Archisen Pte Ltd. The agreement underscores the mutual commitment of bothFarmByte and Archisen to pool the resources and technical expertise for this innovative venture.FarmBytewill provide the farming infrastructure and invaluable local insights, while Archisensuppliesthetechnicalknow-how, offering counsel on indoor farming practices and essential technological requirements, including automation systems and data analytics.

Additionally, Archisen will facilitate comprehensive training for FarmByte’s employees, ensuring adeptness in the latest vertical farming technologies. Vertical farming has been on the rise in both Singapore and Malaysia, reflecting their intensified focus on food security and the pursuit of self-reliance.

Singapore’s ambitious’30 by 30’ initiative has spurred the acceleration of vertical farming, as the nation aims to have 30 per cent of its nutritional needs locally produced by 2030. Similarly, the Malaysian government has placed a strong emphasis on increasing local food production and the self-sufficiency ratio of main food products like fruits and vegetables. This has catalysed the exploration of indoor farming solutions by many local companies, including Johor-based FarmByte. Established earlier this year as part of the JCorp Agrofood Strategic Plan, FarmByte was incepted to amplify Johor and Malaysia’s food security agenda. Adopting a digital-first strategy, Farmbyte aims to modernise the agrofood sector, elevating the livelihoods of farmers by enabling the production of high-quality and high-value produce.

“Embracing a digital-first approach is pivotal to enhancing the way our agrofood sector operates so that Malaysia can become more self-sufficient in the production of high-quality, safe, and nutritious food. As we support farmers to optimise existing practices by adopting digital tools, we also recognise the need to innovate farming methodologies to strengthen the entire agrofood ecosystem,” Mr SyedAiman shared. He added, “We’re thrilled to collaborate with Archisen to expand vertical farming in Johor. Their expertise in crafting state-of-the-art urban farming solutions, particularly in light of Singapore’s leadership in this field, aligns perfectly with FarmByte’s vision to transform Malaysia’s agrofood landscape and ensure a steady supply of food for everyone.”Echoing the sentiment, Mr Weistated, “Both Archisen and FarmByte are united by a shared vision of enhancing food resilience. Our mutual emphasis on innovation and technology to elevate farming efficiency and product quality is the cornerstone of this partnership. Driven by a common purpose, we look forward to bringing the benefits of vertical farming to Johor and Malaysia, playing our part in ensuring everyone’s wellbeing and sustenance.

About FarmByte Sdn Bhd 

FarmByte is pioneering a new innovative era in Malaysia’s agrofood industry. A JCorp company, FarmByte leverages technology to provide transparent end-to-end solutions to players in its agrofood ecosystem – the FarmByte Food Hub – to enhance national food security, production efficiency and product quality. Driven by a commitment to enhance food production and uplift communities, the company works together with trusted partners throughout the value chain – from farmers and processors to distributors and retailers – to create greater business and economic opportunities for the entire farm-to-fork ecosystem. 

About Archisen Pte Ltd 

Archisen is a Singapore-based agritech company that designs, builds, and operates solutions to grow ultra-fresh, ultra-local produce in cities. It operates one of the highest-yielding indoor farms in Singapore, with a projected yield of up to 100 tonnes of vegetables a year. Today, Archisenprovidesquality products to leading retailers in Singapore through its flagship brand, Just Produce. It is also the first and only company in Singapore that provides a comprehensive farm management solution for partners through its turn-key urban farm solution, Cropdom.