R. Hirschmann
Research expert covering Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia
Agriculture in Singapore - statistics & facts
Agriculture is not a major economic sector in Singapore , and less than one percent of its total land area is used for agricultural purposes. This results in Singapore importing most of the food it consumes, making it vulnerable to disruptions in global food supply chains. While the plan to ensure its food security – producing 30 percent of the food it consumes by 2030 - was already introduced in 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of reaching this goal.
Its current local food production is far short of the 30 percent target and is only able to cover limited types of foodstuffs. Furthermore, food consumption, particularly the consumption of animal proteins, has increased with growing affluence. With large-scale livestock rearing all but impossible in land-scarce Singapore, the country is once again looking to technology to meet its growing meat demands.
Urban agriculture and investing in agri-tech
Most if not all of Singapore’s agriculture is urban agriculture and aquaculture, and the licensed farms in Singapore mainly focus on three main types of produce: fish and seafood, vegetables, and hen eggs. To ensure maximum productivity in a limited amount of space, Singapore employs innovative agri-tech and urban farming solutions, such as rotating vertical fish farms, tiered indoor hydroponics farms, and rooftop vegetable gardens. To further support the agri-tech sector, the Singapore government has set aside 60 million Singapore dollars in its 2021 Budget to fund start-ups in this area.Ensuring food security for a growing population
However, even with improvements in agriculture technology, it would be difficult for Singapore to achieve its goal of producing 30 percent of its food consumption. Currently, the country imports around 90 percent of the food it consumes. This overreliance on imports means that any disruption in the supply chain would threaten its food security. The COVID-19 pandemic was a stark reminder of this. Stricter border controls and reduced cargo traffic led to fewer supplies of fresh produce, and higher prices for foodstuffs.Its current local food production is far short of the 30 percent target and is only able to cover limited types of foodstuffs. Furthermore, food consumption, particularly the consumption of animal proteins, has increased with growing affluence. With large-scale livestock rearing all but impossible in land-scarce Singapore, the country is once again looking to technology to meet its growing meat demands.
