‘GPP KiTa’ launched to streamline plant factory approvals, boost urban agriculture

• Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming: “Ensuring food security and maximising food production areas have become a crucial national agenda that we must address collectively.”

SERDANG (Sept 12): The government today unveiled the ‘Planning Guidelines for Plant Factories’ (GPP KiTa), designed to standardise and simplify the application and approval process for establishing plant factories nationwide.

Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming (pictured) said the guidelines aim to promote urban agriculture while bolstering national food security, particularly in urban areas.

He said this was a key initiative, noting that Malaysia is undergoing rapid urbanisation, with the urban population increasing to 75.1%, or 24.4 million people in 2020, compared to 70.9%, or 19.5 million people in 2010.

“At the same time, the country’s food imports have also surged, reaching RM78.7 billion last year.

“Therefore, ensuring food security and maximising food production areas have become a crucial national agenda that we must address collectively,” he told a press conference following the launch of GPP KiTa today.

Nga said the guidelines involve three categories of proposed plant factory development, namely development in new areas with permanent and semi-permanent buildings, development in brownfield areas and development in existing premises.

“Copies of the guidelines will be distributed to all 156 local authorities across the country.

“Also, advisory services for setting up plant factories will be provided free of charge by the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI),” he added.

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