AI, robotics, biotechnology and digital infrastructure could help the country boost agricultural productivity and resilience, but fragmented data, high adoption costs and uneven digital access remain barriers to scaling.
The Korean Zero Waste Movement Network has spent four decades mobilising citizens, government and businesses to prevent, separate and recycle food waste across South Korea, work that has earned it a place among the 2026 Earthshot Prize finalists.
The country's energy regulator said data centres now account for 9.28 per cent of total electricity consumption, while prolonged hot weather due to El Niño is driving up cooling demand and forcing Malaysia to reassess its power needs.