From sky farms to lab-grown shrimp, Singapore eyes food future , Singapore News

Singapore’s Rooftop Food Revolution

Picture this: a tiny island nation—only 724 km² in size—trying to squeeze 30 % of its food supply out of its own soil by 2030. It sounds like a sci‑fi plot, but it’s all happening in the bustling streets of Singapore.

Why Space, Not Land, Matters

Only 1 % of Singapore’s land (about 7 sqm per person) is currently used for farming.
Traditional farms are expensive and frustrated by limited space.
The government’s mantra? “Grow more with less.”

As Professor Paul Teng of NTU sums it up, “When you talk about food security, shift your focus from land to space. A bit of vertical thinking goes a long way.”

The Rise of Sky Farms

From tiered fish farms to vegetable plots on office roofs—and even lab‑grown shrimp—Singapore’s skyline is getting greener. “We’re seeing a doubling of shop‑front‑style farms in just three years,” says entrepreneurs at Sustenir Agriculture.

By lighting their hydroponic beds, these farms grow kale, cherry tomatoes, strawberries, and more, all indoors. The produce quickly makes its way to local shops and online grocery platforms.

Goals, Challenges, & the Road Ahead

“30‑by‑30”: Push food production from 10 % to 30 % by 2030.
Space constraints force creative solutions—think floors, rooftops, and vertical stacks.
Higher production cost compared to neighboring countries demands efficiency and innovation.

With every rooftop farm and engineered farm coming online, Singapore is proving that even a small island can dream big.

Plunging Into Big‑Money Waters: Sustenir’s Next‑Gen Splash

Sustenir secured S$22 million last year from a roster of heavy‑hitters – Singapore’s own Temasek plus Australia’s Grok Ventures.
That cash is earmarked for a twin‑plan: beefing up operations in Singapore and launching the first Singapore‑Hong‑Kong joint‑venture.

Temasek’s Tidal Investment in Apollo Aquaculture

While Temasek was busy at home, they also rolled out funds to Apollo Aquaculture Group, the creative minds behind a S$70 million mega‑fish‑farm, rising eight stories into the sky.

Apollo’s CEO, Eric Ng, knocked back a bold promise: “The new site will multiply our output from 110 tonnes a year to more than twenty times that.”

Ng’s mantra? “Doing things the old‑school way is like sailing in a storm—algae blooms have already taken a dent out of every fisherman’s dream.” He’s confident the sheet‑metal, algae‑free farm will anchor the group against whatever unpredictable tidal changes come next.

Singapore’s Bold Bet on Urban Farming

Ever since it rolled out the ambitious “30-by-30” plan in March, Singapore’s government hasn’t locked in a single price tag yet. Instead, it’s rolled out a range of funding packages aimed at spurring local food production.

Funding Breakdown

Temasek & other investors cover most of the costs.
S$144 million earmarked for food research and development.
S$63 million dedicated to helping agricultural companies adopt technology to boost output.

And that’s not all—by mid‑2021, the plan includes building an 18‑hectare (roughly 44 acre) agri‑food park. Think indoor vertical farms and insect‑raising facilities, all geared toward cutting down on imports.

Investor Buzz

For Anuj Maheshwari, the Managing Director at Temasek who hones in on agri‑business, the message is simple:

“Investor interest in urban agriculture is soaring, thanks to environmental pressures and tech breakthroughs that make local food production more viable.”

“Leap of Faith” – Not Everyone Agree

Not everyone is on board with the high‑tech push. Take William Ho, a seasoned egg farmer. He says the government’s focus on fledgling agri‑tech companies might be a bit excessive.

“Many of these startups have failed,” he notes. “That’s why I keep asking, why don’t you invest in the old‑timers like us? We’re more grounded.”

One major roadblock pointed out by experts is the cost of tech‑intensive inputs. High prices can push the final product out of reach for many Singaporean families.

Shiok Meats – Shrimp for the Future

Enter Shiok Meats, a young venture that’s aiming to be the world’s first company to sell lab‑grown shrimp. Imagine a tank full of nutrients, and after a few weeks, you siphon out the liquid to leave behind pure shrimp mince.

The company earns backing from Henry Soesanto, CEO of Monde Nissin Corp (the Philippine parent of UK meat‑substitute brand Quorn), giving it strong industry clout.

Co‑founder Sandhya Sriram sees huge potential:

“We’re riding the wave of alternative protein popularity that boosted Beyond Meat’s market value to over $5 billion (S$6.9 billion). If we tap that enthusiasm, we can jump from seed funding to premium restaurant sales by the end of 2020, and aim to have enough shrimp for Singapore by 2030.”

“‘30-by-30’ is attainable, but the success hinges on which segment of the food industry you elect to tackle,” Sriram says.

Key Takeaway

Singapore’s “30-by-30” strategy is a blend of ambitious tech, substantial funding, and a vision for a self‑sufficient food system. Whether the high‑tech route will satisfy every stakeholder remains to be seen, but the ambition certainly keeps the culinary scene buzzing.

From sky farms to lab-grown shrimp, Singapore eyes food future , Singapore News