Singapore is addressing its lack of farmland by promoting urban farming. With a goal to produce 30% of its own food by 2030, innovative farming methods like indoor farming and rooftop farms are being explored. The government’s focus on urban development and manufacturing in the past has led to agriculture taking a backseat. However, with the introduction of city planning plans like “LUSH” and the efforts of organizations like Edible Garden City, the urban farming movement is growing. Challenges such as getting people to consume locally grown food and the higher price tag remain, but Singapore’s success could serve as a model for other cities worldwide.
Singapore is known for its modernity, advanced infrastructure, and eco-friendliness. However, one thing that is lacking in Singapore is farmland. Currently, Singapore imports 90% of its food supply, which poses a problem in times of disruptions to the supply chain. To address this issue and make its food supply more resilient, the Singaporean government has set a goal to produce 30% of its own food by 2030. With limited available land, urban farms are popping up all over the city.
In the past, agriculture was not a significant part of Singapore’s economy. In the 1960s, it accounted for only 4% of the GDP. However, as Singapore focused more on urban development and manufacturing, agriculture took a backseat. Bjorn Low, a digital marketer turned urban farmer, co-founded Edible Garden City to promote urban farming in Singapore. Over the past decade, the industry has seen significant growth, with both government and industry investment.
Singapore’s urban farming movement has been facilitated by a city planning plan called “LUSH” (Landscaping for High Rises and Urban Spaces). This plan requires developers to incorporate green spaces into their projects, leading to the development of a massive landscaping industry in the city. In 2017, LUSH was updated to include rooftop farms as part of the required landscape replacement area of a building.
In Singapore, people are trying new ways to grow food. One way is by growing crops indoors instead of outside. They use water instead of soil and chemicals to help the plants grow. There is a special farm called Skies Greens that uses power from water to help the plants grow. Indoor farming is good because it doesn’t have some of the problems that regular farming has, like water pollution. But it can use a lot of energy and money.
Another approach is to build farms on top of existing buildings. Cityponix, in partnership with the Singapore Food Agency, operates a pilot commercial farm on the roof of a multi-story parking lot. Edible Garden City has also created urban farms on top of shopping malls, parking lots, and even an outdoor jacuzzi. The government has made more space available for larger-scale farms, leasing at least 16 carpark rooftop sites for urban farming.
Design firms are also incorporating farming solutions into their projects. Gensler, for example, has come up with ideas to integrate farming into park benches, building exteriors, and even ceilings. Singapore is not the first city to embrace urban farming, but what sets it apart is its deliberate effort to build an agriculture industry from scratch.
However, the biggest challenge for urban farming in Singapore is getting people to consume the locally grown food, especially when it comes with a higher price tag. Bjorn Low emphasizes the need for a cultural shift and community involvement to make urban farming successful. Singapore’s urban farming movement is still in its early stages, but if it takes off, it could serve as a blueprint for food-resilient cities of the future.
Singapore’s urban farming movement is driven by the need to make its food supply more resilient. With limited available land, urban farms are popping up all over the city. The government’s goal is to produce 30% of its own food by 2030. Various innovative farming methods, such as indoor farming and rooftop farms, are being explored. However, the success of urban farming in Singapore depends on community involvement and a cultural shift towards consuming locally grown food. If successful, Singapore’s urban farming movement could serve as a model for other cities around the world.
