My Food For Thought: Is Traditional Farming in Singapore A Declining Heritage?

This blog post was inspired by a conversation with my friend while shopping at a wet market in Phnom Penh.

A thought-provoking question arose: "Does Singapore still have traditional farms?" Having grown up in Nee Soon in the early 1970s before moving to Chong Pang in Sembawang—both areas known for farming, from vegetables to livestock, in Singapore's early years—I found myself unable to answer this question confidently. As a Singaporean who has spent over two decades abroad working in the food industry, I had lost touch with Singapore's food scene. The last time I was in Singapore, the only farms I came across were during my visit to Sungei Buloh Nature Reserve in Kranji. Thankfully, the internet came to my rescue, and I did some research. Here's what I discovered.

Singapore's agricultural landscape tells a compelling story of adaptation and innovation. In a city where concrete jungles dominate the skyline, a remarkable transformation is taking place. Traditional farming, once the backbone of local food production, now occupies just 1% of the nation's land, with 115 farms scattered across Singapore.

Yet, this isn't a tale of decline—it's a story of evolution. While traditional farms maintain their cultural significance and primarily serve educational purposes, Singapore is pioneering a new era of technology-driven farming.

Companies are developing indoor and outdoor farming solutions that maximize limited space, aligning with the government's ambitious "30 by 30" initiative.

Led by the Singapore Food Agency, this program aims to produce 30% of the nation's nutritional needs locally by 2030.

In conclusion, my food talk for thought about farming, Singapore's innovative approach to using technology isn't just about growing food—it's about reimagining how the country feeds itself sustainably. If you're curious about farming and technology in Singapore, the links below may spark your interest.

• Sky Green - Sky Greens is the world's first low-carbon, hydraulic-driven vertical farm. It uses green urban solutions to produce safe, fresh, and delicious vegetables while minimizing land, water, and energy resources.

• Artisan Green - Artisan Green brings fresh produce from their indoor farm in Kallang, located in the heart of urban Singapore.

• GroGrace - An indoor vertical farming company that applies Dutch horticultural practices to improve how fresh produce is grown and distributed locally and globally.

• Kimyan Agrotech - Singapore's largest commercial organic wheatgrass farm. Also within the farm are fresh edible cactuses, aloe vera, and mushroom.

Farm Visit Activity In Singapore

1) Bollywood Veggies

• Address: 100 Neo Tiew Road, Kranji, Singapore 719026

• Website: https://bollywoodfarms.com/  

2) Sky Green

• Address: 200 Lim Chu Kang Lane 3, Singapore 718804

• Website: https://www.skygreens.com/ 

3) Comcrop - Organic Rooftop Farming

• Address: Rooftop, 15 Woodlands Loop, Singapore 738322

• Website: comcrop.com

4) Kok Fah Technology Farm – Hydroponic and Tech-Assisted Farming

• Address: 18 Sungei Tengah Road, Singapore 698974

• Website: https://kokfahfarm.com.sg/ 

5) Hay Dairies Goat Farm

• Address: 3 Lim Chu Kang Lane 4, Singapore 718859

• Website: https://haydairies.sg/

6) Edible Garden City

• Address: 60 Jalan Penjara, Singapore 149375

• Website: www.ediblegardencity.com