Transforming Agriculture at Genting Sustainbiz: Genting Plantations' Innovative AI & Modern Technology Approach to Sustainability

Resorts World Genting's upcoming Genting Sustainbiz Food and Beverage expo is just around the corner with less than two months away. Among the industry leaders showcasing their commitment to sustainability on the expo from 10 to 12 September at Genting International Convention Centre are Genting Plantations.

Look forward to Genting Plantations' Agricultural Technology Department (AgTech Division)’s booth display at the Sustainbiz expo, where they will be showcasing the usage of big data and cutting-edge technology to promote sustainable practices in the food and beverage industry.

How Genting Plantation embraces its AgTech Division in promoting eco-agriculture. 

Under the leadership of Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay, Genting Plantations (GENP) has become a pioneer in oil palm genome research.

Leveraging advancements in genetic science for crop improvement, Genting Plantations successfully decoded the genomes of oil palm, fungal diseases, and the surrounding microbiome (metagenomics) in 2008. This unlocked the full potential of oil palm, realizing the concept of a "fuel tree."

By developing sustainable genomics solutions, Genting Plantations not only enhances the value of the oil palm industry but also contributes to solving food security issues for other crops.

Genting Plantations' biotechnology department underwent a strategic transformation in 2021, becoming the Agricultural Technology Department (AgTech Division). Genting Plantations' AgTech Division comprises ACGT Sdn Bhd (a technology provider), Genting AgTech Sdn Bhd (an oil palm seed company), and Genting Green Sdn Bhd (a vegetable and fruit seed production company).

These transformations and developments reflect the company's unwavering commitment to driving its core agricultural business and innovation. The AgTech Division utilizes a powerful combination of big data, genomics, artificial intelligence, and advanced automation technologies (including robotics and precision agriculture) to provide comprehensive solutions across the entire agricultural value chain. This approach offers advantages in optimizing yields, improving operational efficiency, ensuring end-to-end traceability, promoting sustainable practices, and responsible land management.

Leveraging Big Data and Cutting-Edge Technologies for Precision Agriculture

Powered by its strong R&D capabilities and the latest advancements in data science, Genting Plantations' AgTech Division harnesses big data and cutting-edge technologies to optimize oil palm operations. This includes big data analytics, geospatial tools, the Internet of Things for Agriculture (AgIoT), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and the ability to access public weather data. This comprehensive data ecosystem captures a vast amount of agronomic and site-specific information in real-time, enabling operational teams to make informed decisions and optimize daily oil palm cultivation and operational efficiency.

According to Li Ronghua, Senior Vice President of AgTech, Genting Plantations is passionate about harnessing the power of precision agriculture to achieve optimal yields and adhere to the "Good Seeds, Good Land, Good Practices" methodology. Through comprehensive data collection, analysis, and modeling, operational teams can make informed decisions throughout the crop lifecycle, from planting and land preparation to predicting yields and implementing targeted nutrient management.

Mr Lee Weng Wah, Senior Vice President of AgTech

Li further states that this approach can also promote effective pest and disease control, streamline the harvesting and transportation of oil palm fruits to mills, and adopt sustainable practices.
 

Precision Agriculture: Utilizing Big Data to Aid Management Decisions

Genting Plantations employs modern technology to enhance daily operations with examples such as developing genomics-based high-yield, disease-resistant oil palm seedlings (GT genomics seeds with DNA markers); a series of Yield Booster bio-fertilizer formulations that use microorganisms to improve soil health; and using deep learning AI models (AI-PalmCare Solutions) to automate oil palm counting tasks, thereby increasing operational efficiency.

GTTM-9 Oil Palm Genomic Seed

GT genomics seeds leverage the power of AI and big data to produce the most compatible high-yield oil palm genome seeds. Compared to non-genomic seeds, GT seeds have higher yields on the same land area. This innovation offers significant advantages in sustainability for the food and beverage industry by increasing yield and reducing land usage, thus minimizing agricultural inputs like water, fertilizers, and pesticides.

"In addition to genetic factors, our flagship bio-fertilizer product YieldBooster, developed using beneficial microbial genomes and decryption technology, has proven to increase oil palm yields by 10 to 15%. This green product, which reduces fertilizer use by 25%, has been well-received in the market."

Seed processing for GTTM-9 Oil Palm Genomic Seed

"These measures not only reduce environmental impact but also promote sustainable agriculture. Consequently, the food and beverage industry can benefit from more reliable and sustainable raw material supplies, supporting long-term food security and reducing the carbon footprint associated with agricultural production."

Enhancing Plantation Operational Efficiency

Besides independently developed genetic planting materials, another recent research area for Genting Plantations' agritech department is leveraging digital technology and precision agriculture to improve daily operations in oil palm plantations.

"Our focus is on developing comprehensive digital crop management solutions. This system will provide critical crop information and predictive remedial recommendations, aiding in crop forecasting, budgeting, fertilizer recommendations, and pest and disease management," said Li Ronghua.

"For example, we have developed a palm health monitoring tool using remote sensing technology. This tool can provide health status analysis of the estate, allowing operational managers to quickly identify problem areas and prioritize remedial actions."

He noted that Genting Plantations has always been proud to adopt cutting-edge technology. Since the establishment of the biotechnology department in 2006 and subsequent investment in genomic technology, this direction has remained consistent. Looking ahead, the plantations technology department will continue to lead in agricultural technology, particularly in data strategy and management, geospatial information and UAVs, AgIoT, robotics and automation, AI, and machine learning.

Effectively Addressing Challenges to Ensure Food Security

Responsible agricultural planting is crucial for environmental sustainability, economic viability, and food security. Utilizing advanced technologies like AI and big data to optimize resource use helps reduce environmental impact. Efficient resource management can improve farm productivity, reduce costs, and enhance economic competitiveness and sustainability. This approach not only ensures long-term agricultural productivity but also effectively addresses global food security challenges, ensuring stable and reliable food production.

"The GT oil palm genomics seeds are the latest product in the oil palm seed market. The technology produces superior, high-yield seeds based on their DNA configuration. We have identified DNA markers that maximize yield potential, including factors such as fresh fruit bunch weight, bunch number, and oil yield. To identify these DNA markers, we collect phenotypic data from the materials and use genotyping platforms to analyze and develop predictive models to determine the best parental pairings," he said.

GTTM-9 Oil Palm Genomic Seed

Li Ronghua, Senior Vice President of AgTech, brings his expertise to Genting Sustainbiz on Thursday, 12 September 2024. His presentation, "AI-driven Genomic Seed: Shaping the Future of Sustainable Oil Palm Cultivation," promises valuable insights for those in the palm oil industry and environmentalists alike.

Visit the ACGT booth at the expo to connect with Li and his team. They can provide solutions relevant to your specific area of work, whether you are a palm oil producer, trader, or environmental advocate.

Genting Sustainbiz Food Expo

The inaugural "Genting Sustainbiz Food Expo'' kicks off at the Genting International Convention Centre from 10 - 12 September 2024. Held under the theme "Sustainable Future and Green Economy," the expo runs from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

Genting International Convention Centre facade

The event will provide participants ample business networking opportunities with top-tier buyers, free workshops for building conversations, and unmatched business matching services, said Resorts World Genting.

Are you a leader in green technology with cutting-edge products or services for the food and beverage industry? Genting Sustainbiz offers the perfect platform to showcase your brand and connect with potential partners. Learn more about the expo and how to register as an exhibitor by visiting https://rwgenting.com/sustainbiz or emailing info.sustainbiz@rwgenting.com.