Sd guthrie: SD Guthrie Berhad (Guthrie) has launched NEXA NURSERY, an advanced nursery operated by SD Guthrie Seeds and Agricultural Services (SDGSAS), marking a key milestone in the group's drive towards technology-enabled agriculture and operational excellence. Officially launched by SD Guthrie President and Group Chief Executive Officer Mohd Haris Mohd Arshad, the facility is designed to improve productivity, quality, traceability, and working conditions for nursery operators while producing best-in-class seedlings through advanced technologies such as GenomeSelect.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, since commencing operations, NEXA NURSERY has sown more than 1 million germinated oil palm seeds in just the last six months, with a capacity of over 5 million per annum in this first phase, through its semi-automated production system. "This introduces a new operating model for Guthrie's oil palm nurseries, combining centralised production, automation and quality-focused processes. As a centralised pre-nursery hub, the facility can produce and manage large volumes of seedlings with consistent quality standards, enabling scale and efficiency.
'Its industry-leading culling rate delivers healthier, more uniform seedlings, providing growers with stronger planting materials and reducing wastage, while semi-automated processes improve monitoring, tracking and quality assurance throughout the seedling journey, strengthening consistency and accountability,' read the statement. Meanwhile, Haris was quoted in the statement as saying that NEXA NURSERY reflects exactly the type of innovation culture the group aims to nurture, where research, technology and operational excellence comes together to create measurable business impact.
"It also strengthens our capabilities in producing higher-quality seedlings, boosting productivity, and accelerating advanced technology adoption, driven by the dedication and collaboration of the teams involved," he said. The group added that integrating technology with optimised workflows enables NEXA NURSERY to lower production costs and maintain high-quality standards, while supporting sustainability through reduced wastage, better resource utilisation and safer working conditions.
Guthrie said NEXA NURSERY exemplifies its commitment to leveraging innovation, technology, and smart agriculture solutions to strengthen competitiveness and create long-term value, adding that as the sector evolves, the initiative provides a scalable model to future-proof plantation operations, enhance productivity, and support the sustainable production of high-quality planting materials.