On Sunday, November 9, Agartana Orchard, located in Bukit Selambau, Kedah, officially opened under Heartana Global Berhad. The orchard introduces the country’s—and indeed the world’s—first concept of “private legacy agarwood trees,” marking a pioneering step for the group in both the agarwood industry and the health and wellness ecosystem.

The core innovation of this model lies in transforming agarwood trees from mere collectibles into “living assets” that can be passed down through generations. Each tree is assigned a unique identification number using advanced technology, ensuring clear and verifiable ownership and legacy history. Around this, the group has developed a complete industry chain spanning plantation, research, and health and wellness applications, creating a level of integration that is unparalleled both domestically and internationally.

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The dragon and lion dance at the tree-planting ceremony symbolized the project’s solid foundation and long-term development; from left: Li Xinwei, Jeremy Khor, and Jessica Tan.

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At the opening ceremony, Agartana invited its first 100 customers to personally plant the rare Ky Nam agarwood trees, known as the “King of Agarwood.” Also present were Antah Pharma Executive Directors YM Tunku Mohamed Alauddin Tunku Naquiyuddin and YM Tengku A’liaa Muna Tengku Abdul Rahman, Heartana Global Berhad co-founders Jessica Tan and Jeremy Khor, Master Vivi Lee, Zhang Yan, representatives from Taiwan Aikang Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Zeng Shizhe and Wu Yingying), Heartana Global executives Sherrene Cheah and Kong See Wei, the Head of Heartana Education and Academic Department Yip Wai Ling, representatives from Agartana Orchard’s biotechnology partner company Xu Hongqian, and Tan Sri Yan Tian, among others.

All of them personally planted agarwood trees, highlighting the deep admiration for Ky Nam agarwood by royalty, scholars, and perfumery connoisseurs. The earliest harvest can begin five years after planting. Agartana will assist tree owners in collecting and packaging resin-rich branches, while the main trunks will remain in the soil, continuing to grow naturally.

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After the tree-planting ceremony concluded, all guests posed for a group photo to commemorate this memorable moment; from the third on the left: Xu Hongqian, Yan Tianlong, Tunku Mohd Alaudin, Tunku Alia Munah, Jessica Tan, Jeremy Khor, Master Li Xinwei, Zhang Yan, Zeng Shizhe, Wu Yingying, Yip Wai Ling, Kong See Wei, and Sherrene Cheah.

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In collaboration with Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR)

Heartana Global Berhad co-founder Jessica Tan shared details about Agartana Orchard’s development.

The orchard spans 26 acres, with 20 acres designated as exclusive planting areas for customers. The remaining area is planned for the construction of the Agartana R&D Center in the third quarter of 2026, gradually developing wellness and therapeutic spaces to form a comprehensive health ecosystem integrating planting, research, and experiential learning. The orchard’s target planting capacity is 36,000 trees, and in the future, customers may be invited annually to participate in maintenance and legacy-related activities.

To promote industry talent development and research innovation, the group has established the Agartana Education Fund. For every agarwood tree sold, 3% of the proceeds will be allocated to scholarships, internship programs, and agarwood-related research. Fund allocation will be transparently published on the official website, ensuring accountability and credibility.

Agartana also officially announced a collaboration with the UTAR Hospital Traditional & Complementary Medicine Centre, with a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) scheduled for signing this December. The group has donated agarwood samples to the university, and both parties will jointly advance academic research and practical learning in aromatherapy, complementary medicine, and industry talent development. In the future, UTAR faculty and students will have the opportunity to work on-site at the orchard, participating in soil analysis, inoculation and cultivation, eco-friendly pest management, and harvesting. Outstanding participants may even have the chance to be recruited by Agartana.

Additionally, Taiwan Aikang Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., as a key partner in the health sector, is actively exploring innovative applications of agarwood in wellness products, further expanding possibilities for industry integration.

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For Jessica Tan, agarwood trees can transform from mere collectibles into “living assets” that can be passed down through generations.

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The Location in Kedah Was Chosen for Good Reason, Says Jessica Tan

Jessica Tan explained that the first Agartana Orchard was established in Bukit Sintok, Kedah, primarily because the group already has a local foundation in timber and charcoal industries. The area is free from natural disasters such as windstorms and floods, is close to rivers with good drainage, and has soil and ecological conditions ideal for agarwood cultivation.

She emphasized the use of “technology-assisted planting” combined with ecological restoration principles. Starting from the seeds, the team ensures genetic stability and grafted seedlings, applies trace elements and organic fertilizers, and promotes tree health and natural resin formation. The orchard maintains agarwood quality by controlling the number of branches (typically 3 to 6) and performing careful pruning, while pest control is conducted naturally, allowing minor beneficial nibbles but strictly preventing lethal infestations.

Each agarwood tree is priced at RM100,000, with the first batch of 3,000 trees offered at a discounted RM80,000. Each tree is owned by the customer, and the company provides 10 years of free management services. “If a customer’s tree dies or fails to produce resin, the trust company will provide replacement seedlings, with a success rate of approximately 99%,” she said. The company also issues ownership certificates as proof of identity and legacy, and the tree’s ownership can be legally transferred.

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At the ceremony, Jessica Tan (third from the left) specially showcased a sample of agarwood that can be harvested in five years, demonstrating the future value of this legacy investment to the attendees. From the left: Wu Yingying and Master Li Xinwei; from the right: Jeremy Khor, Tunku Mohd Alaudin, and Tunku Alia Munah.

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Agarwood Has Diverse Uses

Jessica Tan explained that the trees planted by customers are one-year-old seedlings, with the first harvest typically possible in the fifth year, while the sixth year yields higher-quality agarwood. “In the fourth year, the company will consult customers on their harvesting intentions. If they decide to harvest, branch processing will be arranged, and by the fifth year, the agarwood will undergo resin collection, peeling, and air-drying. After about six months of drying, the fragrance stabilizes. If customers wish to sell, the company can assist in connecting them with buyers.”

She added, “Every five years, approximately 800 grams to 2 kilograms of agarwood can be harvested per tree, with quality and yield varying from tree to tree. The price ranges from RM800 to RM1,500 per gram, depending on grade.”

Jessica Tan highlighted the wide range of agarwood applications, including incense, essential oil extraction, medicine, aromatherapy, home energy balancing, and even religious rituals. However, she emphasized that the project places greater value on culture and legacy, regarding each agarwood tree as a “Guardian Tree.” The goal is to promote cultural continuity through tree adoption, rather than focusing solely on investment returns.

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🔗 Sources: https://northern.sinchew.com.my/?p=7028113