Sungai Tangkas, Bangi, [15 April 2025] – YB Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability, visited Braintree Farm to witness firsthand how Qarbotech’s QarboGrow™ is transforming agriculture through sustainable, homegrown innovation.
Braintree Farm, a partner-grower of Qarbotech Sdn Bhd, has been an early adopter of QarboGrow™, a revolutionary photosynthesis enhancer from agricultural waste. The visit reflects the government’s growing interest in technologies that improve food security while reducing agriculture’s environmental footprint.
Developed by Qarbotech in collaboration with UPM, QarboGrow™ is a proprietary innovation engineered with nanocarbon particles derived from agricultural waste. This unique formulation enhances plants’ ability to convert sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide more efficiently—particularly under climate stress such as overcast skies and extreme heat.
By enhancing photosynthesis, plants absorb more CO2 and convert it into plant biomass—naturally absorbing more carbon while producing more food. When applied to plantations or reforestation projects, this process supports long-term carbon sequestration in trees. The use of a photosynthesis enhancer also reduces the need for chemical fertilisers by improving nutrient uptake efficiency. Healthier, more resilient crops are less dependent on pesticides, helping to lower nitrous oxide emissions—one of the most potent greenhouse gases in agriculture. Collectively, these benefits foster a more sustainable, climate-resilient farming system.
The results are clear: stronger, more resilient plants; increased yields; significantly reduced dependence on fertilisers and pesticides; and an enhanced ability to sequester atmospheric carbon naturally through improved photosynthesis.
Field Trials
Applications on 600 hectares of rice fields in Malaysia and Indonesia have shown yield improvements of up to 60%. If scaled to 10,000 hectares, QarboGrow™ could feed an additional 500,000 people annually without expanding farmland or clearing forests. Beyond yields, QarboGrow™ strengthens climate resilience.
Field trials support that QarboGrow™ is driving measurable impact:
- Up to 20% increase in rice yields
- Fertiliser use was reduced by 22 kg per hectare
- Over 45,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions were avoided across 10,000 hectares
- 2.259 tonnes of CO2 saved per hectare, thanks to better efficiency and reduced chemical inputs
Widening Adoption
Climate change is already placing significant pressure on food systems across Southeast Asia. In the Philippines, rising temperatures alone have contributed to a 6% increase in food production costs over the past decade. More broadly, efforts to realise global net zero emissions by 2050 are projected to increase food production costs in five ASEAN countries by 31% to 59%, compared to baseline projections. These cost escalations threaten both food affordability and supply chain stability—highlighting the urgent need for innovative, cost-effective, and climate-smart agricultural solutions.
The Minister’s visit underscores the pivotal role of government support in enabling and expanding field trials for QarboGrow™ across key crop sectors and agroecological zones. This is a crucial step toward national-scale adoption—ensuring scientific validation, building farmer confidence, and accelerating the transition to climate-smart agriculture. These field trials also open the door to broader collaboration in:
- Aligning national policies with sustainable agricultural innovation, integrating technologies like QarboGrow™ into Malaysia’s mainstream farming systems to advance food security and environmental resilience.
- Supporting pilot programs, capacity building, and targeted funding empowers farmers—particularly smallholders—to adopt low-carbon, high-efficiency practices.
- Positioning Malaysia as a regional leader in green agri-tech, leveraging homegrown innovations to drive measurable outcomes in productivity, sustainability, and climate adaptation.
“Solutions like QarboGrow™ show us what’s possible when innovation is rooted in sustainability. Supporting field trials at scale is not just about validating technology—it’s about empowering our farmers, protecting our ecosystems, and positioning Malaysia as a leader in green agri-tech. The Ministry is committed to working alongside pioneers like Qarbotech to ensure our agricultural future is both productive and climate-resilient.” — YB Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability
“We are thrilled that YB Nik Nazmi took the time to see this innovation in action,” said Chor Chee Hoe, CEO of Qarbotech. “QarboGrow™ proves that Malaysian-made solutions can lead global conversations on sustainable agriculture and decarbonisation.”
“As growers, we’ve seen the impact. QarboGrow™ helps us produce more with less fertiliser, less pesticide, and less environmental burden; and increase yields and incomes. This is the kind of innovation Malaysian agriculture needs to lead in a climate-challenged world,” said Arif Makhdzir, CEO of Braintree Technologies Sdn. Bhd.
Transformative Benefits
As more farmers and growers experience the transformative benefits of QarboGrowTM, the case for climate-smart agriculture grows ever clearer. “Our journey begins with light, touches every plant, drives real-world impact, and ultimately centres around the people and communities we serve. These are our roots. They reflect not just what we innovate, but why we care. In every breakthrough, we are responsible for co-creating a future where agriculture regenerates the earth, nourishes lives, and leaves no one behind. This is what it means to harness light and enrich lives truly,” said Chor.
