Singapore's food security objective '30 by 30' is presently under reassessment, as affirmed by the government

In a move to ensure the long-term sustainability of Singapore's food supply, Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment Koh Poh Koon has confirmed a review of the country's food security strategy. The review aims to address productivity, cost, and demand challenges, and promote the sector's growth.

The decision comes amid a less favorable global food industry outlook, with dwindling investments in food technology and alternative proteins, and geopolitical tensions affecting energy costs. Koh, in an interview, characterized the "30 by 30" vision as "aspirational" when it was first announced in 2019, noting that the agri-food business climate was more favorable at that time.

As part of the review, farms are encouraged to assess farming methods and solutions most appropriate for their operating model and constraints, ensuring commercial viability, climate resilience, and resource efficiency. Opposition Workers' Party member Dennis Tan suggested supplementing high-tech solutions with low-tech sustainable farming practices to enhance climate resilience and yield.

One potential low-tech solution for Singapore's fish farms could be permaculture, providing shade, cooling, and temperature stabilization. However, Koh has noted that permaculture may not be well-suited for local production in Singapore due to its land space requirements.

In a positive development, sales of locally-grown xiao bai cai and processed local fish products have increased significantly since the launch of a collective model by the Singapore Agro-Food Enterprises Federation (SAFEF) last May. SAFEF's collectively grown vegetables will be available at competing supermarket operator Sheng Siong starting this month.

The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) is responsible for the project to develop a high-tech and resource-efficient agricultural facility in Lim Chu Kang, which has been delayed. Two large-scale projects to develop a high-tech agricultural hub in Lim Chu Kang have also been delayed, according to local media.

To enhance Singapore's ability to understand and predict tropical urban weather, including extreme weather arising from climate change, a S$25 million (US$18.6 million) weather science research programme has been planned. Additionally, a S$300 million (US$223.7 million) energy efficiency fund for public sector buildings has been announced, to be disbursed over the next five years.

Plans to study solutions to capture carbon emissions at waste-to-energy plants, with a pilot project to be launched by 2026 to validate such carbon capture technologies, are also underway. The review will provide more details about the strategy at a later date, though no specific timeframe was given.

The website conducted a dozen interviews with local farmers and food sustainability experts in 2024 and published a special report "Sowing the Impossible?" asking if it is time Singapore reviewed its "30 by 30" food production goal. The report highlighted the closure of high-profile farms, including government grant recipients, as a reason for the review.

In 2021, Singapore introduced a S$60 million (US$44.7 million) Agri-Cluster Transformation (ACT) fund to help farmers adopt productivity-enhancing technologies. As of end-2024, the ACT fund has supported small-scale trials to larger commercial systems, with over S$28 million (US$20.9 million) awarded to 43 companies.

Other climate-related plans unveiled at the Committee of Supply 2025 debates include a coastal protection bill in the second half of 2025, site-specific studies on Sentosa Island and the nation's south-west coast for coastal protection from rising seas starting by 2026, and a S$5 billion (US$3.7 billion) top-up to the government’s annual budget for coastal protection plans.

As Singapore continues to strive for food self-sufficiency, the review of the food security strategy will play a crucial role in shaping the future of the agri-food sector in the city-state.