Agri-Food Innovation in Singapore
Singapore imports approximately 90% of its food, relying on less than 1% of its land area for agriculture. Despite this limitation, the city-state has developed a thriving agri-food innovation ecosystem, with companies operating across the value chain, from farm inputs and agri-tech solutions to high-tech urban farms producing food for local consumption.
To maximize productivity in a limited space, Singapore is pioneering advanced agri-tech and urban farming solutions, including:
- Rotating vertical fish farms to optimize seafood production.
- Tiered indoor hydroponic farms for year-round leafy vegetable production.
- Rooftop urban farms integrated into residential and commercial buildings.
Singapore’s agri-food strategy revolves around its “three food baskets”:
- Diversifying import sources to enhance supply chain resilience.
- Encouraging firms to grow food overseas to secure stable supply chains.
- Expanding domestic food production through innovation and technology.
A key initiative supporting this strategy is the “30 by 30” goal, which aims to produce 30% of Singapore’s nutritional needs locally by 2030. To achieve this, Singapore is developing a high-tech agri-food zone in Lim Chu Kang, expected to triple food production upon completion. The cluster will integrate shared processing, waste management, and research facilities to create economies of scale for agribusinesses.
Government and Industry Support for Agri-Food Innovation
Enterprise Singapore (ESG), the government agency responsible for enterprise development, has built a strong network of partners to support R&D, capability development, and market expansion in the agri-food sector. Key initiatives and organizations include:
- Clinical Nutrition Research Centre (CNRC) – A leading center for research on the impact of nutrition on health.
- Food Innovation & Resource Centre (FIRC) – Supports SMEs in food manufacturing, product innovation, and processing.
- APAC Protein Innovation Centre (PIC) – A collaboration between Givaudan and Bühler, providing food processing companies, startups, and researchers with the facilities to develop plant-based foods. PIC is linked to Switzerland’s R&D hubs to accelerate product development on a global scale.
- FoodInnovate – A multi-agency initiative equipping Singapore-based companies with the expertise and resources to pursue food innovation. Key areas include developing functional foods for the elderly and converting food by-products into new, marketable products.
Singapore as a Regional Hub for Alternative Proteins
Singapore has become Southeast Asia’s hub for alternative proteins, offering contract manufacturing facilities and R&D support for plant-based and cultivated meat companies.
- SGProtein, a Singapore-based contract manufacturer, operates Southeast Asia’s first large-scale facility for producing plant-based meat alternatives.
- Eat Just, a US-based company, established a 30,000-square-foot plant-protein factory in Singapore, featuring the world’s largest bioreactor for cultivated meat production.
- MeaTech 3D Ltd., a deep-tech cultured meat company, partnered with Singapore-based Umami Meats to develop 3D-printed structured seafood.
- Aleph Farms, a pioneer in cultivated steak production, signed an agreement with ESCO Aster, a Singapore-based contract manufacturer, to scale up cultivated meat production.
Consumer Receptiveness to Agri-Food Innovation
Singapore’s F&B sector and consumers are highly receptive to novel food products. A case in point is Solein, a protein powder made from microbes, water, and carbon dioxide by Finnish company Solar Foods. In 2023, Singapore became the first country to approve the sale of Solein-based food products, allowing chefs from The Lo & Behold Group to incorporate the ingredient into gourmet dishes.
The city-state’s openness to food innovation, coupled with strong government support, creates significant opportunities for companies investing in agri-food technologies. Whether in alternative proteins, sustainable agriculture, or food R&D, Singapore is a strategic location for businesses seeking to develop, test, and commercialize innovative food solutions in Asia.
