Agriculture in Singapore is a complex undertaking for three key reasons. Firstly, there is a lack of land and resources. Although some of the issues that arise from scarcity can be alleviated through technological and infrastructure innovation, the costs can be prohibitive.
Secondly, there is insufficient expertise and experience. Institutional knowledge was lost when old-world farms were shuttered for urban development and regaining it takes time.
Thirdly, there is a declining demand for local farm produce. In fact, demand has been underwhelming, Kenny Eng says. He oversees the operations of nature-based events company Gardenasia, which offers farm-to-fork experiences at its bistro in Neo Tiew Crescent and retails products from homegrown brands at its grocery store. These brands include Yili Farm, The Soup Spoon, and Sustenir.
As part of Gardenasia’s efforts to boost demand for local produce, it sources ingredients for its bistro from local farms, efforts that were recognised by the Singapore Food Agency last year with the highest Farm- To-Table Recognition Award. It does the same for its ready-to-eat products and the charity farmpacks given to underserved families with the support of donations and sponsorships.
Eng points out that while NTUC Fairprice and the Singapore Agro-Food Enterprises Federation Limited recently reduced the prices of local vegetables to encourage consumption, other factors need to be met to shift consumer behaviour.
“There is no lack of effort on various fronts, but building an ecosystem that works will take time, commitment, and political will.”
Kenny Eng on building up our agri-food industry
It’ll also help that consumers know more about the impact of their choices. For instance, buying local produce reduces our carbon footprint. Eliminating long-distance storage or transportation reduces the risk of food spoilage.
This will ensure local farms’ commercial sustainability as farmers will be incentivised to invest in new technologies and ramp up production, which will in turn fuel great strides towards achieving our government’s 30 by 30 goal for food security.
While local produce are currently on the pricey side, this will change with increased demand since inflation results from demand-and-supply issues and rising operational costs. “In the long run, prices will normalise when economies of scale enable our farmers to compete on an equal footing, such as with cheaper imports that are heavily subsidised,” Eng explains.
He adds that a farmer must possess three attributes to remain relevant: groundedness, since engagement fosters trust and goodwill; adaptability, since keeping up with new trends and technologies maintains relevance; and tenacity, because farmers will always have a place in society.
Gardenasia hopes to increase access to local farm produce for a wider segment of the community by working with community organisations, corporate partners, and individual donors to scale up the impact of the charity farmpacks, which have so far benefitted over 2,000 families. The company is also working on introducing new offerings to its bistro menu and ready-to-eat line.
In spite of his appreciation for the scope of the 30 by 30 goal and the spotlight it casts on our farmers, Eng believes that the focus should first be on developing our agricultural ecosystem, then on increasing production. An enhanced system, he says, entails establishing a knowledge base and a steady supply of skilled labour and agricultural resources.
However, none of that matters if there isn’t sustained support for local produce, which greases the wheels of food security. “Increased demand will help us stabilise our food supply, allowing us to build a healthy reserve for when we need it.”
Art director: Ed Harland
Videographer: Alicia Chong
Camera assistant: Yvonne Isabelle Ling
Photographer: Zaphs Zhang
Photographer’s assistant: Jaron Tay
Hair: Michael Chiew
Makeup: Sarah Tan
Location: PARKROYAL COLLECTION Marina Bay, Singapore
