A smart farming system built for under RM60 has won Malaysia’s top honour at EcoRise 2025, which concluded with its final award ceremony on 23 January 2026 at INTI International College Subang.
The winning project, PlantX, was developed by Wong Hanz and Lau Shan Miao, final-semester Engineering students from Kolej Matrikulasi Kedah. The system was created in response to Malaysia’s agricultural labour shortage, where an ageing farming population and youth migration to urban areas have placed increasing pressure on food production and local food security.
EcoRise, INTI International University’s student climate-action initiative, concluded on 23 January 2026 with a final award ceremony at INTI International College Subang.
PlantX is an Artificial Internet of Things (AIoT)-based smart farming system that integrates soil moisture, humidity and pH sensors with automated drip-mist irrigation and fertilisation controls. It enables real-time monitoring and data-driven adjustments, reducing manual labour while supporting more precise cultivation.
One of its distinctive features is acoustic growth. According to the team, plants exposed to sound waves demonstrated improved nutrient absorption and growth efficiency compared to conventional methods.
The ESG Team from INTI International University, led by Dr Arasu Raman, travelled to Yogyakarta, Indonesia, to recognise EcoRise winners for their climate-action efforts.
“PlantX is designed to help farmers grow more with less effort,” said Wong Hanz. He explained that automation, sensor monitoring and acoustic growth work together to improve productivity, particularly for small- and medium-scale farmers.
The system operates in two modes. In Autonomous Mode, irrigation, misting and fertilisation are adjusted automatically based on sensor data. In Advisory Mode, farmers can consult an AI-powered chatbot for recommendations while retaining manual control.
“We wanted to create a system that is practical, affordable and easy to use,” said Lau Shan Miao, adding that even farmers who are less familiar with technology can benefit.
Wong Hanz and Lau Shan Miao, final semester Engineering students from Kolej Matrikulasi Kedah, led their team to first place in Malaysia at EcoRise 2025 with their project, PlantX.
PlantX was selected from more than 30 student-led climate projects submitted from across Southeast Asia at EcoRise 2025, the first regional cycle of the initiative designed and led by the ESG Team at INTI International University.
Participation was open to secondary schools, TVET institutions and universities, with priority given to under-resourced communities. Students from Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Thailand and Timor-Leste developed and implemented solutions addressing waste reduction, resource conservation, environmental education and behavioural change.
PlantX is an AIoT-based smart farming system designed to support plant growth through automation, real-time monitoring and data-driven decision-making.
Projects progressed from proposal stage to on-ground implementation before being evaluated by an international panel of judges from universities worldwide. Submissions were assessed based on innovation, feasibility and tangible impact. Award ceremonies were also held in partner locations across the region before the final event in Subang.
“This competition is dedicated to making school children understand the effects of climate change today,” said Dr Arasu Raman, Director of Social Impact at INTI and Head of the ESG Team. He added that the programme was extended to Southeast Asian countries and carried out in collaboration with local government bodies to widen participation.
Following its first regional cycle, EcoRise will expand in 2026 to welcome more schools and institutions across the region.