A Malaysian agricultural technology firm, Agroz, has partnered with China’s UBTECH Robotics to debut its new initiative, Agroz Robotics.

Agroz plans to integrate AI-robotics technology directly into its farm operating system.

The company is a specialist in AI-powered Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) and operates as a cutting-edge, fully vertically integrated agricultural technology firm. 

The collaboration aims to put a humanoid robot to work on the farm. The star of this new program is UBTECH’s industrial humanoid robot, the Walker S.

According to the announcement, Walker S will be the first humanoid robot integrated into Agroz’s vertical farming facilities.

Vertical farming maximizes food production in minimal space by growing crops in vertically stacked layers.

“Through Agroz Robotics, we hope to make sustainable agriculture a reality,” said Gerard Lim, CEO of Agroz. 

“Our collaboration with UBTECH is a major milestone in our mission to redefine agriculture by using robots and artificial intelligence. This new collaboration enables us to combine cutting-edge humanoid robotics with data intelligence to build smart, self-optimizing farms to support the scalable production of cleaner, safer, and more sustainable food,” Lim added. 

Autonomous farming system

In recent years, robots have emerged as a smart solution to address the challenges of traditional farming. 

The mobile, two-legged humanoid robot will function as the hardware platform integrated directly into Agroz OS, the proprietary farm operating system. 

This deployment of AI robotics technology is designed to automate key agricultural processes in a controlled environment. Specifically, the robot will perform labor-intensive and delicate tasks such as seeding, monitoring, harvesting, and crop optimization.

The autonomous farming system promises to transform operations by boosting productivity, reducing reliance on human labor, and ensuring more precise, consistent crop quality through data-driven robotic execution.

With this technology, experts can ensure more precise, consistent crop quality year-round.

The deep integration enables Agroz to deploy modular robotic solutions across various settings — from vertical farms and smart greenhouses to hybrid facilities — in the high-growth markets of Southeast Asia.

Sustainable agriculture

The Agroz Robotics initiative aligns with goals to strengthen food security and resilience. 

Mr. Lim acknowledged the Malaysian government’s support in cultivating an environment where such deep-tech solutions can thrive.

“We are delighted to collaborate with Agroz to apply our artificial intelligence and robotics technologies across a wider range of industries, contributing to the sustainable development of agriculture in Asia and around the world,” said Leon Li, General Manager of UBTECH’s Industrial Robotics Division. 

Established in March 2012, UBTECH Robotics specializes in developing humanoid robots and smart service robots. Its technology is applied across various sectors, including AI education, smart logistics, wellness and elderly care, and business services.

The role of robots is increasingly essential in modern agriculture, with recent developments demonstrating their technological capabilities. 

For example, in 2024, scientists in the United Kingdom began testing robotic technology featuring a gamma-ray detector (developed by a Cornish company) mounted on tracked robots and quadrupeds to map and assess soil health quickly. 

Simultaneously, China has introduced what it claims is the world’s first laser-based cotton-topping machine—an autonomous robot—that represents a major step toward fully mechanizing the labor-intensive task of cotton farming.

The new collaboration is setting the stage for a global movement toward intelligent, sustainable, and climate-resilient food systems.