Pineapples in the city: Penang pilots urban farming for food security
November 19, 2025 | malay mail |
Penang is expanding its food security strategy by introducing an urban farming program to grow organic pineapples in non-traditional spaces, such as high-rise buildings, residential areas, warehouses, and portable containers. The project, developed with the Malaysian Pineapple Industry Board, uses vertical farming technology with automated, high-intensity systems to maximise production in limited urban land. A working indoor model has already been demonstrated at a local restaurant, and Penang hopes to mirror the success of Malaysia’s largest vertical farm in Johor.
Beyond crops, Penang is also modernising its livestock sector. Livestock accounts for 44% of the state’s agricultural revenue, consistently exceeding RM1 billion annually. The state is pushing farms to adopt closed-house systems, buffer zones, zero-waste practices, and stronger environmental controls. All pig farms have now completed the transition, with waste processed at a biogas plant, while poultry farms with over 20,000 birds must upgrade by 2030.
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November 19, 2025 | malay mail | Penang is expanding its food security strategy by introducing an urban farming program to grow organic pineapples in non-traditional spaces, such as high-rise building
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