Frequency of red meat consumption in Singapore 2021

In a survey on sustainable habits and awareness of climate change conducted in Singapore, around 42 percent of respondents stated that they consumed red meat at least twice a week or even more. The average Singaporean diet is still heavy on meat products, which could damper achieving the food security aspect of the Singapore Green Plan 2030.

Food security and sustainability

Land-scarce Singapore has hardly any agriculture and relies heavily on food imports for domestic consumption. Although the country has set a goal of producing 30 percent of its food by 2030, this does not make it less vulnerable to disruptions in its food supply chain. In 2022, neighboring Malaysia announced that it was halting chicken exports, resulting in a noticeable increase in chicken prices and a decrease in availability in Singapore.

Singapore Green Plan 2030

As part of its commitment to sustainable development, the Singapore government unveiled the Singapore Green Plan 2030. As part of this Green Plan, Singapore aims to reduce its carbon emissions and enhance its food security. Reducing meat consumption could contribute to achieving these goals. However, in the past ten years, the per capita consumption of beef and per capita consumption of chicken in Singapore has instead been increasing.