farmbot_update_plant · Farmbot Agent MCP: Risk & Policy

WHAT IT DOES

What farmbot_update_plant does on Farmbot Agent

AI agents use farmbot_update_plant to create or update resources in Farmbot Agent — usually the action step of a workflow, after the agent has gathered context. Every call changes real data in your Farmbot Agent environment.

WHY IT NEEDS A POLICY

Why farmbot_update_plant needs a policy

The tool creates or modifies data (in this case, plant records) in a reversible manner. It does not execute hardware commands, delete records, move physical equipment, or commit financial transactions.

From the tool's definition Tool description states 'Update an existing plant', which modifies existing data. The FarmBot context involves managing physical gardening hardware and plant records—updating plant data is a reversible modification operation.

Attacks that exploit this kind of access

Recommended rule Ready

Verdict

farmbot_update_plant Rate-limited

farmbot_update_plant stays usable, but capped — an agent stuck in a loop can't make hundreds of changes a minute. Everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.

View as policy code

policy.json

{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "farmbot_update_plant": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "farmbot_update_plant_rate",
          "window": "minute",
          "max": 30,
          "scope": "grant"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}

LIMIT THIS TOOL →

Instant setup, no code required.

PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway: every tool call is checked against your rule before it reaches Farmbot Agent, so you can run agents against it safely.

FAQ

Questions about farmbot_update_plant

What does the farmbot_update_plant tool do? +

Update an existing plant. It is categorised as a Write tool in the Farmbot Agent MCP Server, which means it can create or modify data. Consider rate limits to prevent runaway writes.

How do I enforce a policy on farmbot_update_plant? +

Register the Farmbot Agent MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for farmbot_update_plant: allow, deny, rate-limit, or require approval. Point your MCP client at the PolicyLayer proxy URL and the rule is enforced on every call, before it reaches Farmbot Agent. Nothing to install.

What risk level is farmbot_update_plant? +

farmbot_update_plant is a Write tool with medium risk. Write tools should be rate-limited to prevent accidental bulk modifications.

Can I rate-limit farmbot_update_plant? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the farmbot_update_plant rule in your PolicyLayer policy. For example, setting max: 10 and window: 60 limits the tool to 10 calls per minute. Rate limits are tracked per agent session and reset automatically.

How do I block farmbot_update_plant completely? +

Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for farmbot_update_plant. The AI agent will receive a policy violation error and cannot call the tool. You can also include a reason field to explain why the tool is blocked.

What MCP server provides farmbot_update_plant? +

farmbot_update_plant is provided by the Farmbot Agent MCP server (kieranklaassen/farmbot-agent-cli-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.