SINGAPORE (EDGEPROP) - In land-scarce Singapore, the pandemic has emphasised an increased strain on global supply chains and its impact on food availability. Presently, the country imports more than 90% of its food consumption, and produces less than 10% of it. In anticipation of further disruption to supply lines, the government has acted swiftly to diversify its food sources, bringing in food via air, land and sea from different countries.
Singapore’s food imports today come from 170 countries and regions globally, up from 160 in 2007. The government has since set an ambitious target of meeting 30% of the country’s nutritional needs by 2030, with less than 1% of its land area.
Urban farms could help. “While the scale of urban farms cannot compare to that of large agricultural farmlands, yields can be increased through the use of technology,” UBS says, adding that: “The idea is to modularise food production so as to have some level of self-sufficiency in the event of an external shock.”
Last year, property giant CapitaLand unveiled the revamped Funan mall, housing some 5,000 sq ft of urban farm on level 7. Funan is touted as the first mall in the city-state to boast a farm-to-table concept, where diners can eat the produce harvested. The farm is operated by Edible Garden City, which has more than 200 farms across the island.
Other green players include rooftop farming pioneer Comcrop, which operates a hydroponic greenhouse in Woodlands Loop. Elsewhere, vertical farming firm Citiponics runs a 1,800 sqm commercial farm on the rooftop of a HDB multi-storey car park in Ang Mo Kio, producing enough vegetables to feed 1,600 people a month.
The benefits of urban farming would then be twofold: Feed the nation while keeping Singapore’s built environment green.
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