Cover Eshton Thomas of Babylon Vertical Farms speaks about the innovations reshaping agriculture
Eshton Thomas of Babylon Vertical Farms speaks about the innovations reshaping agriculture
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What does the future of farming look like? From lab-grown greens to AI-powered crop care, we speak with Eshton Thomas of Babylon Vertical Farms about the innovations reshaping agriculture—and why the next generation of farmers might spend as much time coding as they do planting
Farming and agriculture may once have conjured romantic notions of sun-drenched fields and well-worn tractors, but today’s agriculture is scaling new heights—literally. In a quiet corner of the city, Babylon Vertical Farms is stacking trays of microgreens under LED lights in a high-tech facility that looks more like a data centre than a traditional farm.
At the helm is Eshton Thomas, co-founder and head of sales and operations, part of a new vanguard reimagining what it means to grow food in the 21st century.
His path into vertical farming was anything but linear. “It was all by chance, really,” Eshton says. Armed with a degree in Finance and Management but faced with a stagnant job market, he began volunteering at a friend’s vertical farming startup simply to strengthen his résumé.
What was meant to be a six-month stint stretched into nine years—and counting. “My childhood dream was to be a chef,” he reflects. “This is the next best thing: earning the respect of chefs, not with dishes, but with produce.”
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Above Red veined sorrel, BVF's best-selling item
Red veined sorrel, BVF's best-selling item
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To understand where the agriculture industry might be heading, it helps to look at how Babylon began. “We started off as your typical run-of-the-mill vertical hydroponics farm,” Eshton explains. “We wanted to grow high-end herbs and kale for the market.”
But a pivotal meeting with Chef Darren Teoh of Dewakan prompted a radical shift. “He advised us to do something different or risk losing out to the big boys like Genting Gardens or Cameron Highlands farms,” he says.
That advice led to a complete reinvention of agriculture. Babylon pivoted to specialising in rare microgreens—unique varieties previously unavailable in Malaysia. “Since then, we’ve found a lot of success as the only microgreens provider in Malaysia with over 41 different kinds of microgreens,” Eshton says.
One of their standout crops is the ulam raja microgreen, made possible by sourcing seeds in bulk from a small farmer in Kelantan. Today, Babylon supplies to over 30 restaurants across the Klang Valley, including nearly all Michelin-starred establishments in Kuala Lumpur and Penang. They now produce upwards of 1,000 trays of microgreens each week.
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Above BVF's Automated Watering System
BVF's Automated Watering System
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At the heart of this success is more than just exceptional greens. Babylon’s story speaks to a broader shift in agricultural thinking—one that favours innovation over landmass, and agility over tradition. So what makes vertical farming truly innovative, beyond its Instagrammability?
“You can fully employ the space of uninhabited buildings to grow food. As long as there’s a power supply, you can farm indoors,” Eshton explains. Of course, the startup costs are significant, and energy use is intensive, but the returns are compelling. Vertical farming offers a way to grow food closer to urban centres, immune to seasonal swings and climate unpredictability.
More broadly, Malaysia’s agriculture scene is seeing a welcome burst of variety. “We’re seeing Japanese strawberries, heirloom tomatoes, rare varieties of corn, even tropical caviar,” Eshton says. “It’s mind-blowing that local farmers are growing such high-quality produce. We’re starting to rely less on imports, which is a huge shift.”
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Above “You can fully employ the space of uninhabited buildings to grow food. As long as there’s a power supply, you can farm indoors."
“You can fully employ the space of uninhabited buildings to grow food. As long as there’s a power supply, you can farm indoors."
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This shift is being driven by a confluence of advanced technologies. From AI and biotech to data-driven farm management, the innovations making headlines are beginning to take root in real-world practices. “AI is already being trialled in medicine to detect early signs of cancer,” Eshton points out. “Imagine applying that same intelligence to detect diseases in crops, adjust irrigation or fine-tune fertilisation. It’s not just hype, it’s happening.”
Biotech, too, is playing a vital role. “Biotech has been implemented far earlier than AI and has proven effective in creating active microbes to improve soil health and ecosystem health among many other things,” he adds. The combination of these tools, when used wisely, can yield profound transformations.
Yet this technological leap forward is not without its limitations. “Farming is modernised,” Eshton insists. “But these technologies come at a cost that many smaller operations can’t afford. The challenge now is making them accessible. The narrative is shifting, but the general public hasn’t caught up.”
Above Biotech is playing a vital role in agriculture.
Above An automated watering system that could reduce labour hours.
Biotech is playing a vital role in agriculture.
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Accessibility remains a recurring theme in our conversation. “The government should be doing more to help implement tech for smaller operations to get started, so that they too can keep up with big players in the industry,” he adds. That support, he believes, could level the playing field and encourage innovation even at grassroots levels.
At Babylon, the modernisation effort includes building an automated watering system that could reduce labour hours by more than 60 percent. The goal isn’t just efficiency, it’s empowerment. “That frees us up to train our operators in soft skills; marketing, planning, sales. We’re not just growing plants, we’re growing people,” says Eshton.
As for the tension between cutting-edge models like vertical and urban farming and more traditional methods, Eshton sees compatibility rather than conflict. “Urban or vertical farming can be used for germination, ensuring only the strongest crops make it to the field. Traditional farming will always have its place. But the two can, and already do, complement each other beautifully.”
Above Parsley, (Petroselinum crispum)
Above Red Mizuna, (Brassica rapa var. nipposinica)
Parsley, (Petroselinum crispum)
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When asked where the government, investors or young entrepreneurs should be focusing their energy, Eshton is unequivocal. “Focus on improving yields for staple crops like rice and put money into tech that extends shelf life to reduce food waste. For governments, AI should be a priority. It can transform our entire industry.”
Above Eshton’s long view is rooted in sustainability and stewardship.
Eshton’s long view is rooted in sustainability and stewardship.
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And while innovation is often seen through a commercial lens, Eshton’s long view is rooted in sustainability and stewardship. “By 2035, I want to see farmers growing real food, without harmful chemicals and giving back to nature. After all, we rely on the planet to produce for us. It’s only fair if we return the favour.”
As agriculture writes its next chapter, Babylon Vertical Farms offers a compelling glimpse into what’s possible. Here, farming is not just a labour of land, but a laboratory of ideas—a future unfolding tray by tray.
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Credits
Photography: Fady Younis
Quinny Tan is the Social Media Manager of Tatler Malaysia, where she leads the growth and strategy of the brand’s social presence while overseeing content output, ensuring the brand's voice resonates with both longstanding readers and new communities in the digital space. In recent years, she has worn several hats across the media landscape—having served as a writer, video producer, video editor, and on-camera host.
Outside of work, she can be coaxed out of her default doom-scrolling state with an iced black coffee, reruns of Prison Break, and a quick-shuffle of Red Hot Chili Peppers' discography. Find her at the nearest, spiciest sazerac whilst building rapport with anyone who has a good story to tell, with mic in hand.
