Singapore Food Agency Local production key to ensuring stable food supply
We refer to Mr Lance Wu's letter (Increase demand for local produce, April 26).

With more than 90 per cent of our food imported, Singapore is vulnerable to external factors such as the volatilities of the global food market. Hence, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) has been investing in local production to mitigate our reliance on imports and which can serve as a buffer during supply disruptions. Our goal is to achieve "30 by 30" - to produce 30 per cent of our nutritional needs locally by 2030, up from less than 10 per cent today.

To do so, we will leverage technology that allows us to grow more with less.

SFA has been providing strong funding support to the local agri-food industry to adopt such technologies, such as through our $63 million Agriculture Productivity Fund, which has benefited 110 farms as of the end of last month.

To further drive innovations, we launched grant calls last December for research and development (R&D) in sustainable urban food production and alternative proteins, under the $144 million Singapore Food Story R&D Programme.

A $30 million 30x30 Express grant was also established earlier this month to accelerate the ramping up of local production in eggs, leafy vegetables and fish over the next six to 24 months. Local agri-food players can tap the grant to defray upfront costs to expand their production capacity.

Since 2017, we have been awarding agriculture land, through a competitive land tender basis, to agri-food companies with promising technologies. Additionally, SFA has been looking to unlock more alternative spaces to grow food locally and harness technological innovations.

Next month, we will be launching a tender of rooftop spaces on HDB multi-storey carparks for urban farming.

While we work with the industry to boost local production, demand from consumers is equally important to sustain a healthy agri-food ecosystem.

To make it easier for consumers to identify local produce, we will also be introducing a new Local Produce logo, which can be found on local produce in retail shops and supermarkets from the middle of this year.

We are also launching a citizens' workgroup to co-create with citizens and find ways to increase demand for local produce. We encourage consumers to select local produce as it is safe, fresher, lasts longer and has a lower carbon footprint.

Melvin Chow
Senior Director
Food Supply Resilience Division
Singapore Food Agency

Source: https://www.straitstimes.com/forum/forum-local-production-key-to-ensuring-stable-food-supply

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