Key Takeaways:
- Sunway XFarms is expanding to 1 million square feet of decentralized urban farms across Malaysia.
- A new 37,000 sqft farm is set to produce 13,000 kg of vegetables monthly.
- The smart farming system uses IoT and data analytics for optimized output and sustainability.
- Sunway XFarms aims to provide 3 million kg of produce annually from four hubs by 2029.
Sunway XFarms, founded by Sunway Property and Sunway Education Group during the pandemic, has expanded its urban farming initiative to address the growing need for sustainable food production. Since its inception, the company has produced over 15,000 kilograms of leafy greens, supplying more than 1,800 families with fresh, pesticide-free produce grown in Sunway’s smart sustainable city in Kuala Lumpur.
The company is preparing to launch a new 37,000-square-foot farm, estimated to produce 13,000 kilograms of fresh vegetables per month. This new farm is part of a broader strategy to increase Sunway XFarms’ presence across Malaysia.
Expansion Plans
Sunway XFarms has set an ambitious target of developing one million square feet of decentralized farms across four urban hubs within the next five years. These hubs will be located in Klang Valley, Iskandar Puteri in Johor, Ipoh, and Penang. According to Sunway Group’s Chief Innovation Officer and Sunway XFarms Director, Matt van Leeuwen, the four hubs are expected to yield a combined three million kilograms of produce annually once fully operational.
Technology-Driven Farming
The company’s farming model incorporates smart technology to optimize production. Sunway XFarms uses IoT sensors and data analytics to monitor and manage farm conditions in real-time. This technology allows the company to reduce water usage by 90% compared to traditional farming, while producing ten times the yield.
Eleanor Choong, Chief Operating Officer of Sunway XFarms, emphasized the role of technology in achieving sustainability goals. “By collecting and analyzing data from our farms, we can ensure optimal output while minimizing resource use,” Choong said in a press statement. The approach also reduces farm-to-fork mileage, helping to cut carbon emissions and ensure the freshness of the produce.
Future Goals
Currently, Sunway XFarms operates four pilot farms in Sunway City Kuala Lumpur and has a demonstration farm at Sunway Pyramid mall. As the company expands its urban food hubs, it plans to increase its contribution to Malaysia’s food security by providing fresh, locally grown produce to urban populations.
With a focus on sustainability and technology, Sunway XFarms aims to reshape urban agriculture in Malaysia through its scalable, decentralized farming approach.