Singapore opening up land and opportunities for agri-tech ventures

Chang Ai-Lien Straits Times 5 Mar 19;

Singapore wants a bite of the $5 trillion global food and agri-tech pie, and is putting its money where its mouth is. It is opening up land, giving out grants and increasing education opportunities for those who want to join the sector.

And farmers here will not be the workers of old toiling under the sun, but highly trained individuals who use technology to do the work and to maximise harvests in a limited space.

Just like Mr Joseph Phua, who made the switch from pig farming in the 1980s to vegetable farming, and grows pesticide-free crops in greenhouses at his farm, Orchidville, in Sungei Tengah.

He has even created his own hybrid aquaponic farm to rear fish and grow vegetables. Here, vegetables are grown stacked above fish tanks to cool them, while water used for the fish is filtered and pumped back into the system to water the vegetables.

More farmers like Mr Phua are needed.

Dr Koh Poh Koon, Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry, said in Parliament yesterday: "Our good innovation climate, strong talent base, reputation for food safety and strategic location position us very well to capture a slice of this industry, particularly here in Asia."

The goal is for Singapore to be a leading urban agriculture and aquaculture technology hub with a food production model that can be exported to the region.

To this end, he is leading a multi-agency team looking at how to better support the agri-tech industry in the areas of industry and enterprise development, research and development (R&D), manpower and regulations.

The push into agri-tech will not only help make Singapore more self-sufficient in producing its own food, but will also create new job opportunities as well as the chance to supply high-value solutions for urban farming to other countries.

Yesterday, Dr Koh announced a new 18ha Agri-Food Innovation Park at Sungei Kadut, which will bring together high-tech farming and R&D activities, including indoor plant factories, insect farms and animal feed production facilities. The first phase of the park will be ready in 2021, with potential for future expansion.

Farmers can also draw on funding. The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority, for instance, helps local farmers through the $63 million Agriculture Productivity Fund (APF) to boost production capa-bilities, and appoints to each farm an account manager from AVA to advise farmers on technology adoption and areas such as business development.

Institutes of higher learning, too, have a key role in training farmers of the future.

Republic Polytechnic, for one, has launched a Diploma in Urban Agricultural Technology.

And Temasek Polytechnic will be launching a Centre of Innovation in Aquaculture, which will pull together resources, intellectual property, infrastructure and expertise which companies and practitioners can tap to deepen their capabilities.

Dr Lee Chee Wee, technology adviser at Temasek Polytechnic, has been leading researchers in solving issues faced by intensive aquaculture for the past eight years.

Some of the innovations under his watch include nutritious feed to help fish thrive in super-intensive farming, and oral vaccines to keep diseases at bay.

"We are talking about a whole new industry here, and we are in a very good position to create something to benefit the world," he said.

"We have already got a head start in areas such as water tech, and this can be applied to make fish farming more efficient."

Dr Lee noted that Singapore is well placed to tackle the problems of lack of space, lack of labour and lack of water.

"All the technology that we develop to address these solutions can be exported to other countries as well," he said. "These are problems which all countries are facing or will face."

Fresh veggies, all from rooftop farm at HDB carpark
Cheryl Teh Straits Times 5 Mar 19;

Vegetable planting at the new Citiponics Farm @ Ang Mo Kio began only last month but within weeks, it should be producing enough leafy greens to feed 1,600 people a month.

At the height of production, the 1,800 sq m rooftop farm - situated on top of a Housing Board multi-storey carpark at Block 700 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 6 - aims to grow up to four tonnes of vegetables a month.

The company uses an aqua organic system, in which a constant stream of water and nutrients is pumped through a network of pipes. It does not use pesticides or produce waste, and aims to save space and energy.

The pipes have holes cut into them, creating pockets which are then filled with tiny clay pebbles. Seeds are placed among the pebbles, which become the growing medium for the plants.

The privately owned farm can currently grow up to 25 different types of vegetables, such as nai bai (dwarf bok choy), kai lan (also known as Chinese kale) and cai xin (a green leafy vegetable similar to kai lan).

"This is the first time we are piloting commercial urban farming on an HDB multi-storey carpark, and another example of how our government agencies like AVA (Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority) and HDB have exercised regulatory flexibility to support the agri-tech industry," Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry Koh Poh Koon said yesterday.

"Planting started in February, with the first harvest expected in April. Residents can soon look forward to fresh vegetables that are produced by community, in the community, for the community."

The enhancements aim to encourage landscaping on walls and roofs that not only beautifies buildings, but also provides visual relief to passers-by and cools the ambient temperature, said a URA statement.

Citiponics will hire locals - including elderly residents from the Awwa Senior Community Home - to work on the farm.

Among those keen to get involved is Awwa resident Yow Chai Kwai.

The 81-year-old said: "I like this environment very much - it is clean, and the vegetables we grow are nice and tasty.

"I hope that Singapore will have more of these farms so that the elderly in other areas of Singapore can experience working on a farm."

Dr Koh said the farm will also look to provide students with internship and volunteering opportunities to hone their urban farming skills and cultivate interest in green technology. And its produce will be sold at FairPrice's nearby store at the Ang Mo Kio Hub.

Said Mr Teo Hwa Kok, chairman of Citiponics: "Given the proximity of the farm to the HDB area, we can minimise the foot miles and carbon footprint used for transporting vegetables."

Citiponics has another rooftop farm in Kang Ching Road in Jurong.


Ang Mo Kio 'rooftop carpark farm' to grow four tonnes of vegetables monthly
Cheryl Teh Straits Times 4 Mar 19;

SINGAPORE - Vegetable planting at the new Citiponics Farm @ Ang Mo Kio began only last month, but within weeks, it should be producing enough leafy greens to feed 1,600 people a month.

At the height of production, the 1,800 sq m rooftop farm - situated on a HDB multi-storey car park at Block 700 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 6 - aims to grow up to four tonnes of veggies a month.

The company uses an "Aqua Organic System", in which a constant stream of water and nutrients is pumped through a network of pipes. It does not use pesticides or produce waste, and aims to save space and energy.

The pipes have holes cut into them, creating pockets which are then filled with tiny clay pebbles. Seeds are placed among the pebbles, which become the growing medium for the plants.

The farm can currently grow up to 25 different types of vegetables, such as nai bai (dwarf bok choy), kai lan (also known as Chinese broccoli or Chinese kale) and cai xin (a green leafy vegetable similar to kai lan).

"This is the first time we are piloting commercial urban farming on a HDB multi-storey carpark, and another example of how our government agencies like AVA and HDB have exercised regulatory flexibility to support the agri-tech industry," said Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry Koh Poh Koon on Monday (Jan 4). Dr Koh also announced the main advancements to be made in the agriculture industry this year.

"Planting started in February 2019, with the first harvest expected in April 2019. So residents can soon look forward to fresh vegetables that are produced by community, in the community, for the community."

Citiponics will hire locals - including elderly residents from the AWWA Senior Community Home - to work on the farm.

Among those keen to get green fingers is 81-year-old AWWA resident Madam Yow Chai Kwai, who said: "I like this environment very much - it is clean, and the vegetables we grow are nice and tasty.

"I hope that Singapore will have more of these farms, so that the elderly in other areas of Singapore can have the experience of working on the farm."

The farm will also look to provide students with internship and volunteering opportunities, to hone their urban farming skills and cultivate interest in green technology.

Produce from the farm will be sold to FairPrice, which will sell it at its nearby store at the Ang Mo Kio Hub.

"Given the proximity of the farm to the HDB area, we can minimise the foot miles and carbon footprint used for transporting vegetables," said Mr Teo Hwa Kok, chairman of Citiponics, which has another rooftop farm in Kang Ching Road.

Rooftop car-park greens on the menu, as Singapore innovates to grow agri-tech sector
JANICE LIM Today Online 4 Mar 19;

SINGAPORE — It took Mr Teo Hwa Kok seven years of research before his urban farm in Ang Mo Kio finally bore fruit.

In April, the first batch of Mr Teo’s Georgina lettuce will go on sale. The vegetables are grown and harvested in the Citiponics farm, which was co-founded by the 56-year-old and is located at the roof of a Housing and Development Board (HDB) car park.

Using a technology called the Aqua Organic System, the farm produces vegetables that are free of pesticides, and its water- and energy-saving methods prevent mosquito breeding, Mr Teo said.

A water tank pumps water into its system of 400 racks — pipes filled with customised pebbles where the seeds are planted — before it flows back into the tank and is recycled within the system.

"It’s just like our heart, it keeps on pumping the blood and then goes through all these arteries and comes back,” said Mr Teo.

With the first batch of seeds planted in February, Mr Teo expects to harvest the lettuce next month and sell his Citiponics produce at the NTUC supermarket at Ang Mo Kio Hub.

After plowing in years of research, Mr Teo had initially set up a prototype farm in Taman Jurong in 2016 before starting his first commercial urban farm in Ang Mo Kio in December last year.

Mr Teo said that the authorities had allowed him to use the rooftop space at the car park as the HDB and the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) saw how he could expand production by making use of unused or under-utilised spaces.

Dr Koh Poh Koon, Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry, noted that the urban farm is one example of how government agencies can “explore regulatory flexibility and innovative ways of doing things” to grow an agri-technology sector which is still at a nascent stage in Singapore.

“Our vision is for Singapore to be a leading urban agriculture and aquaculture technology hub with a food production model that can be exported to the region,” said Dr Koh, who was speaking at the parliamentary debate on the Ministry of Trade and Industry's budget on Monday (March 3).

Besides regulatory flexibility, Dr Koh also laid out other measures to help grow the agri-tech sector, which he said could become an export industry for Singapore.

A new 18ha Agri-Food Innovation Park (Afip) will be established in Sungei Kadut, and its first phase will be ready from the second quarter of 2021, with potential for future expansion.

“Afip will bring together high-tech farming and R&D (research and development) activities, including indoor plant factories, insect farms and animal feed production facilities,” he added.

Dr Koh will also be leading a multi-agency team to see how the Government can better support the agri-tech industry as one of the new growth areas of Singapore.

Educational institutions are equipping students with the necessary skills needed for this industry, said Dr Koh. For example, Republic Polytechnic launched a Diploma in Urban Agricultural Technology earlier this year. Temasek Polytechnic will set up a Centre of Innovation in Aquaculture, said Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat in his Budget statement last month.

Dr Koh said: “Our position as an agri-tech hub will strengthen Singapore’s economy, create good jobs for Singaporeans, and buttress Singapore’s food security.”

He also said that the food and agri-tech sector is a US$5 trillion (S$6.8 trillion) global industry that is growing rapidly due to new innovations in processes and products.

Singapore to grow high-tech farming with 18ha facility at Sg Kadut
Aim is to capture a slice of growing $5 trillion global industry, export high-tech methods
Cheryl Teh and Seow Bei Yi Straits Times 5 Mar 19;

A plot of land equivalent to 33 football fields in size will serve as Singapore's farming hothouse, as the country seeks to develop and export know-how in the emerging agricultural technology sector.

The 18ha set aside for the Agri-Food Innovation Park at Sungei Kadut seeks to bring together a range of high-tech farming and research and development (R&D) activities, Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry Koh Poh Koon told Parliament yesterday.

The park will have indoor plant factories, insect farms and animal feed production facilities, and agencies are working with local and overseas industry leaders to develop its first phase, which should be ready from the second quarter of 2021.

"Our vision is for Singapore to be a leading urban agriculture and aquaculture technology hub with a food production model that can be exported to the region," Dr Koh said during the debate on the Trade and Industry Ministry's budget.

Singapore has also been looking at ways to improve food security.

The agri-tech hub's strategic location, with existing farms in Lim Chu Kang and Sungei Tengah to the west and Senoko Food Zone to the east, will form part of a larger northern agri-tech and food corridor set aside for food-related industries.

It will have space to expand to cater for growth, the ministry said.

Mr Desmond Choo (Tampines GRC) had asked about Singapore's plans to develop the food and agri-tech sector, noting that the global food and agri-tech industry, worth some $5 trillion, is growing rapidly.

In January, Seeds Capital, the investment arm of trade agency Enterprise Singapore, appointed seven co-investment partners to channel over $90 million in investments to develop Singapore-based start-ups in the agri-tech sector.

Yesterday, Dr Koh said the sector's growth is fuelled by new innovations in processes and products. Singapore's good innovation climate, strong talent base, reputation for food safety and strategic location puts it in good stead to capture a slice of this industry, particularly in Asia.

Dr Koh added that beyond the hardware and infrastructure, a pipeline of talent is also important for Singapore's plans on this front.

He was thus heartened that more Singaporeans - especially young people - are showing interest in high-tech urban farming. A new generation of technopreneur farmers is emerging, and Dr Koh expects institutes of higher learning to introduce more courses to equip people with relevant skills for the sector.

Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat had, in his Budget speech, said Temasek Polytechnic would launch an aquaculture innovation centre.

Such developments, Dr Koh said, will support Singapore's agri-tech sector in becoming an export industry. "Our position as an agri-tech hub will strengthen Singapore's economy, create good jobs for locals and buttress the Republic's food security."

Singapore can also contribute urban farming solutions to cities in the region, such as in fish and shrimp feed and controlled environment systems, he added.

Meanwhile, more home-grown agriculture companies are being helped to expand abroad, he added, citing start-up Sustenir's plans to grow in Hong Kong. The company specialises in growing non-native plants like strawberries locally.

The plan for an agri-tech hub was welcomed by urban farmers, who hailed it as an important investment in the local farming industry.

Comcrop founder Allan Lim said: "This is a good move, primarily because all kinds of agri-tech can be in one place. We can then tap into global tech and attract global players to place their interest here."

The hub could be "an agri-tech 'village', with everything from how produce is grown, harvested and sent out being integrated in one place", he added.

Dr Koh will lead a multi-agency team to look at better support for the agri-tech industry. It will look at areas such as R&D, manpower and regulatory flexibility, and work closely with industry players to gather feedback.


New facility for high-tech farming, R&D to be ready by 2021: Koh Poh Koon
Amir Yusof Channel NewsAsia 4 Mar 19;

SINGAPORE: As part of efforts to grow the food and agri-tech sector, a new 18-hectare Agri-Food Innovation Park will be built in Sungei Kadut.

The first phase of the park will be ready from the second quarter of 2021, with potential for future expansion, said Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry Koh Poh Koon in Parliament on Monday (Mar 4).

Speaking during his ministry’s Committee of Supply debate, Dr Koh said the park will bring together high-tech farming and research and development activities, including indoor plant factories, insect farms and animal feed production facilities.

Such infrastructure can “catalyse agri-tech innovation and co-creation among industry players”, he said, adding that the agri-technology sector offers "exciting job opportunities”.

“The food and agri-tech sector is a S$5 trillion global industry that is growing rapidly, fuelled by new innovations in processes and products," Dr Koh said. "Our good innovation climate, our strong talent base, reputation for food safety and strategic location position us very well to capture a slice of this industry, particularly in Asia."

In addition, Dr Koh said he will be leading a multi-agency team looking at how the Government can better support the agri-tech industry in the areas of industry and enterprise development, R&D, manpower and regulations.

“This steering committee will work closely with industry players and associations such as the Singapore Agro-Food Enterprises Federation (SAFEF) to take on board industry feedback,” he said.

Dr Koh reiterated Singapore’s vision to be a leading urban agriculture and aquaculture technology hub with a food production model that can be exported to the region.

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Advanced manufacturing is another promising growth area undergoing rapid transformation in Singapore, Dr Koh noted

"We are building new niches in areas such as additive manufacturing and advanced materials, by deepening the capabilities of our companies and workers," he said.

The Government is also developing "next-generation estates" such as the Jurong Innovation District (JID).

“The JID will feature innovative infrastructure such as an underground District Logistics Network that will free up surface land and provide seamless integration with JID buildings to transform the way we deliver goods,” said Dr Koh.

Source: CNA/am(gs)