In Southeast Asia, an agro-digital revolution is underway, driven by public investment, international partnerships, and local startups
By Tommaso Magrini
In recent years, Malaysia has undergone a deep transformation in its agricultural sector, focusing on advanced technologies to strengthen food security and reduce dependency on imports. As part of the 12th Malaysia Plan, the government has introduced several measures to push agriculture towards more efficient, digitalized, and sustainable models. At the center of this strategy are smart farms—highly automated agricultural operations using tools like IoT, drones, robotics, and big data analytics. These technologies allow real-time monitoring of variables such as soil pH, temperature, and humidity, optimizing irrigation and fertilization with precision, minimizing waste, and boosting yields. Pilot projects in states like Perak and Johor include aquaponic systems and greenhouses equipped with smartphone-controlled sensors. The goal is to enable remote crop management while improving food quality. Smart farms are not meant to replace traditional agriculture but to complement it with more profitable models tailored to urban markets. The government aims to expand the adoption of these technologies through dedicated funds, farmer training, and partnerships with e-commerce platforms to boost local production and profit. One standout example is Sunway FutureX, an urban lab based on vertical farming, sensors, and algorithms to optimize crop growth and anticipate plant needs. This technological innovation reflects a broader vision: strengthening national resilience, making production more sustainable, and engaging a new generation of agripreneurs. It marks a shift in Malaysia’s food map—from quantity to quality, and from imports to food sovereignty.
More broadly, across ASEAN, an agro-digital revolution is unfolding. In Thailand, dtac’s “Smart Farmer” program trained over 20,000 farmers in seven provinces, boosting incomes by 25% through online marketing and tools like Farm Man Yum, which increased maize and cassava yields by 400 kg/rai, cut losses by 44%, and added around 2,500 baht/rai in profits. Thailand’s “1 Tambon 1 Digital” initiative has established drone hubs in 500 communities, generating 350 million baht in economic value. In Vietnam, startups like MimosaTEK have introduced IoT and smart irrigation in the Mekong Delta. With cloud-linked sensors, farmers can manage irrigation via smartphones, with pilot projects in Cần Thơ province. University programs in Đà Lạt are developing drones for disease detection and nutrient monitoring, while smart fertigation systems have improved water efficiency. ASEAN is experiencing a true digital leap—from drones in Thailand to sensors in Malaysia and Vietnam, to agrivoltaics and urban farming in Singapore. While notable progress has been made in productivity and sustainability, challenges remain: digital literacy, access to financing, and scalability are key hurdles. Yet the region's success stories highlight a clear trend: smart agriculture is emerging as the next frontier in Asia’s green heart.
English 
Italian