Greenbugs Farms: Bridging the divide between freshness and food security
30 Aug 20256 min read
Summary
- Greenbugs Farm, an urban indoor farm in Petaling Jaya founded by logistics veteran Ker Soon Ang in 2020, is redefining how freshness and food security can coexist. Using controlled environment agriculture and a hydro-aquaponics system, the company grows herbs, edible flowers, and microgreens that stay fresh longer and reduce food waste, offering quality produce that remains accessible to the market.
- Rather than competing with traditional agriculture, Greenbugs positions itself as a complement, focusing on on-demand planting, small-batch production, and partnerships with outdoor farmers to balance efficiency and scalability. Ang emphasizes that the goal is not perfection but practicality, ensuring sustainable operations while minimizing waste and maintaining above-average quality.
- Education and transparency are at the heart of Greenbugs’ model. Through its Farm-to-Table Café, farm tours, and workshops with partners like DHL Express, the company is helping shift public perceptions of what “good food” means and nurturing a more open, collaborative farming ecosystem that values shared knowledge over exclusivity.
Freshness and food security are often seen as occupying opposite ends of the spectrum. The first one suggesting privilege and premium pricing and the latter urgency and necessity. Greenbugs Farm, an urban indoor farm located in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, is working to bridge this divide.Founded by Ker Soon Ang in the year 2020 during the pandemic, a seasoned logistics executive with over 15 years of experience at firms like DHL and ECMS Express across Southeast Asia and China, Greenbugs brings supply chain thinking into agriculture.Through controlled environment agriculture (CEA), pioneered the hydro-aquaponics growing system, and a model grounded in education and transparency, the company is currently challenging the idea that “fresh and quality” is a luxury.
An Alternative to a Strained System
Across Southeast Asia, climate volatility has intensified pressures on traditional farming. Frequent pest outbreaks, crop diseases, and lower yields are pushing many farmers to rely on synthetic inputs—growth stimulants, pesticides, GMO seeds—to remain productive. But this often comes at the cost of food quality and sustainability. Worse, large quantities of crops still go unsold, creating food waste even as food insecurity persists.
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“That’s why when you go to grocers, the shelves are always filled with a variety of greens. Consumers want choices and expect to have supplies readily available whenever they go shopping. Empty shelves would impair their shopping experiences and discourage them from future visits,” Greenbugs Farm founder, Ang, told Value Chain Asia (VCA).
Complement, Not Replace
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“Controlled environment agriculture is not going to replace, but complement traditional farming,” he noted.
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