Reflections from an Aspiring Farmer: What’s Holding Back Singapore’s Food Future

As someone who has spent the past few years closely watching Singapore’s urban agriculture scene—and who dreams of one day becoming a farmer myself—it truly pains me to see one disheartening story after another of farms shutting down, sometimes just a year after they begin. Each closure feels like a loss not just for the company, but for the dream of a more self-sustaining, food-secure Singapore.

I've realised certain uncomfortable truths.

1. The unrealistic focus on technology 

Despite only using 1% of our land for agriculture, we push high-tech farming instead of allocating more land. This approach is fundamentally flawed: high-tech farms require massive capital and operating costs that exceed profit margins, making them uncompetitive against regional producers using natural sun and rain. We're building expensive, energy-intensive facilities while ignoring what matters most—produce quality. 

Proposed Solution: 

Prioritise quality over technology. Engage directly with farmers to understand their challenges, and design policies that support sustainable best practices while providing adequate resources and infrastructure. Technology should be applied selectively—only when it demonstrably enhances produce quality and operational efficiency, rather than being treated as the default solution. Additionally, it is worth re-examining how Singapore might responsibly expand its agricultural land use to strengthen long-term food resilience.

2. Overly-centralized control of farming policies 

The Singapore Food Agency’s guidelines on setting up a farm are discouraging, primarily due to the extensive regulations and high setup costs required before planting even a single seed. While it is important to ensure that farming practices adhere to high standards, the current framework seems more suited to those with capital rather than those with genuine farming expertise. A re-evaluation of these policies is necessary to attract more authentic farmers. 

Proposed Solutions: 

To strengthen Singapore’s food resilience, it is essential to engage a broader segment of the population in food production. 

Two potential strategies are: 

• Democratize Farming: Encourage aspiring farmers by simplifying entry requirements, while ensuring that any produce undergoes rigorous quality testing before reaching the market. Additionally, establish a marketplace for these farmers and offer support for marketing and distribution, easing the burden on them.

• “Hawker-Centre” Model for Farming: Develop designated “ready-to-grow” farming lots across Singapore, available for public bidding. By creating controlled environments for farming, this model lowers the barriers to entry for new farmers, allowing them to focus on improving produce quality. Furthermore, provide comprehensive marketing and distribution solutions to help these farmers succeed financially and sustainably. 

3. Outdated distribution channels

Current supply chains are designed to support existing business models and are ill-suited for the future of local agriculture. Supermarkets continue to dominate the retail landscape, controlling the majority of fresh produce sales and consumer purchasing habits. As profit-driven entities, their priorities lie in efficiency and margins rather than national food security or sustainability. The high listing and placement fees imposed by these retailers further marginalise small and independent farmers, turning the system into a commercial barrier rather than an enabler of genuine local production.

Proposed Solution:
Drawing inspiration from software-as-a-service (SaaS) models, Singapore can explore developing peer-to-peer agricultural marketplace where farmers sell directly to consumers. Such a platform would foster a virtuous ecosystem—empowering small-scale farmers to improve the quality of their produce with the assurance of a ready market, while consumers gain access to a wider variety of locally grown, fresher, and more sustainable food options. This decentralised approach would reduce dependence on traditional retail channels and promote a more inclusive, resilient food economy.

4. Shortage of agricultural talent

Singapore’s farming culture has been largely absent since the 1970s. Like many from my generation, I did not grow up in a farming environment—my exposure to agriculture was limited to the produce sold in wet markets, with little understanding of how it was grown. This disconnect has only widened over generations. Yet, modern farming presents a renewed opportunity. While the core principles remain the same, today’s methods leverage technology, information, and access to high-quality resources that were once unavailable. Encouragingly, a new generation of young farmers is emerging—driven by a shared desire to strengthen Singapore’s food resilience. It is crucial that we nurture and support this group, as they are essential to building a sustainable agricultural future.

Proposed Solution:
We must invest in developing a new generation of farmers by providing training, tools, mentorship, and resources—regardless of age or background. By implementing the earlier recommendations on policy reform, land use, and distribution, we can create an ecosystem where aspiring farmers can thrive.

These reflections stem from my personal experiences and observations. As I continue developing my own insect farm, my hope is to contribute meaningfully to Singapore’s journey toward greater food resilience and sustainability.