Kuala lumpur: The Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) has been appointed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (KPKM) as the National Strategic Digital Technology Validator and implementing agency for the Digital AgTech Programme to drive digital transformation in the agri-food sector.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the appointment, which was announced at the Malaysia Agriculture, Horticulture and Agrotourism Exhibition (MAHA) 2026 on August 30, will expand MDEC's mandate to accelerate the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technologies across the agri-food sector. MDEC stated that the initiative aims to increase productivity, optimise resource utilisation, strengthen food security, and enhance the industry's competitiveness.
MDEC chief executive officer Anuar Fariz Fadzil remarked that food security and digital economy development are two closely interrelated strategic national agendas. He expressed that the appointment would help farmers and agro-entrepreneurs improve efficiency, expand market opportunities, and strengthen the resilience of the country's food supply. He noted, "Through i-AGRI, BidFresh, and Agrovator@Sekolah, we are building an ecosystem that connects data, innovation, talent development, and market access."
To date, more than 800 Digital AgTech systems, including over 100 AI-based systems, have been deployed nationwide by local technology companies with Malaysia Digital (MD) status. The implementation covers the crop, livestock, fisheries, and aquaculture subsectors, while more than 30,000 participants have received training and exposure to Digital AgTech technologies.
MDEC also announced the launch of three strategic initiatives at the event: the Digital Agriculture Technology Adoption Platform (i-AGRI), the BidFresh Platform, and the Agrovator@Sekolah programme. These initiatives aim to strengthen the country's Digital AgTech ecosystem through data-driven planning, expanded market access, and future talent development.
The i-AGRI platform serves as an integrated platform that consolidates information on technology adoption across various subsectors, providing statistics, maps, charts, and interactive visualisations. Meanwhile, BidFresh connects agro-entrepreneurs directly with buyers through a digital platform that facilitates market matching, information sharing, and transactions. Agrovator@Sekolah is a national talent development initiative exposing primary and secondary school students to AI, the Internet of Things (IoT), automation, and smart farming.