Singapore goes underground to ensure food security
Singapore is working on the “30 by 30” initiative in a bid to reduce reliance on imports and ensure food security amidst climate change.
With 90% of foods in Singapore imported from other countries, the initiative aims to build the agri-food industry’s capability and capacity to sustainably produce 30% of the country’s nutritional needs by 2030.
This goal also features in the Singapore Green Plan 2030 and will help build a more resilient food future.
Under the initiative, Singapore plans to create a facility where agriculture and livestock farming can be undertaken simultaneously to tackle issues of insufficient land for food production.
For instance, cultivation of plants not requiring photosynthesis and livestock farming would be done underground using innovations to ensure a suitable ecosystem for production.
The facility would be equipped with a variety of technologies to help with sustainable energy consumption, such as solar panels.
“With just 1% of Singapore’s land set aside for farming given the many competing land needs, the agri-food industry will need to significantly uplift its productivity in the coming years,” the Singapore Food Agency states on its website.
Singapore’s Minister for Trade & Industry Gan Kim Yong said that the country has around 50% fish and vegetables to meet adequate carbohydrate and protein needs. He added that some resources are imported from around the world to ensure the resilience of the supply chain.
“The 30 by 30 idea is to ensure food security and sustainable sources of supply,” he said, “At the same time, we also stockpile critical food items to ensure that we have a regular supply chain.”
He also vowed to continue the initiative to ensure sufficient resources to prepare different kinds of foods, such as salads and noodles.
