Malaysian telco CelcomDigi and agritech startup BoomGrow Productions say they have partnered to launch 5G and AI-powered machine farms that they say will enhance sustainable farming practices and food production in the country.
Under the partnership announced on Thursday, CelcomDigi will integrate 5G connectivity, AI and extended reality (XR) with BoomGrow’s precision farming technology.
BoomGrow’s machine farms will use 5G connectivity to gather real-time data from integrated sensors and monitoring systems, allowing for precise control of indoor farming environments and ensuring optimal conditions for crop growth.
Meanwhile, advanced analytics powered by AI enable deeper analysis of those datasets, with data from all machine farms consolidated into a centralised dashboard, enabling seamless oversight and management.
The XR component, powered by XR Associate, is a training tool for agronomists that enables them to learn how to manage modern farming systems from different locations where BoomGrow machine farms are present. This will also help facilitate BoomGrow in onboarding new agronomists as they scale to roll out more machine farms in future.
BoomGrow CEO and co-founder Murali Krishnamurthy said the combination of these technologies will enables real-time monitoring, precise control of farming environments, and predictive analytics, leading to increased crop yields and overall resource efficiency.
“The integration of 5G technology into our operations allows us to unlock new levels of efficiency and sustainability, driving the future of agriculture,” he said in a statement. “With this enhanced connectivity, our customers will benefit from better predictability and control, ensuring consistently high-quality produce and more reliable outcomes.”
BoomGrow is among the 40 partners of CelcomDigi’s recently launched AI Experience Centre (AiX), which aims to foster cross-industry collaboration for emerging technologies including 5G, AI, robotics and the metaverse. BoomGrow says it has deployed machine farms in Malaysia (including one at AiX) and the Philippines.
