Vertical farming innovations in Singapore

In 2019, Singapore aimed to grow 30% of its food by 2030. This was a big jump from the 10% it grew before. The city’s plan to use vertical farming shows its push for innovation. This is crucial as Singapore is small and has to import lots of its food.

Vertical farming in Singapore means growing crops in stacked layers indoors. It uses less space and resources, perfect for cities. The “30 by 30” goal has encouraged new methods and technology in farming.

Sky Greens and ComCrop show how farming can change with the right approach. Sky Greens, since 2012, uses a vertical system that saves water and increases crop yield. ComCrop runs a big farm on a roof, using much less water and aiming for a big harvest.

The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) helps by funding high-tech farming. This support drives innovation. It proves that vertical farming in Singapore is good for the environment and food safety.

• Singapore aims to produce 30% of its nutritional needs locally by 2030 under the “30 by 30” initiative.
• Vertical farming significantly reduces space and resource utilisation in urban agriculture.
• Sky Greens and ComCrop are pioneers in high-tech farming, achieving high yields with minimal resource use.
• The Singapore Food Agency provides essential support to drive innovation in controlled environment agriculture.
• Vertical farming contributes to sustainable food production and enhances local food security.

In Singapore, the way agriculture works is changing fast. It’s now leading in the field of urban farming and making food in a way that’s kind to the Earth. With limited land and a focus on eco-friendly ways to grow food, vertical farming is key.

Singapore set a big target in 2019: to grow 30% of its food by 2030. This is quite the jump from under 10%. The change is mainly thanks to vertical farms, like Sky Greens and ComCrop.

Sky Greens started in 2012. They stack up plants high and use less water while producing more food. For example, they only need half a litre of water to move 1.7 tons of plants. This saves water and makes growing food much greener. Then there’s ComCrop, which began in 2011. It runs Singapore’s largest rooftop farm since 2018. They grow crops with 90% less water and get 150 kg of vegetables each month.

These farms sell directly to local businesses, which means fewer food imports and more safety for local food supplies. The government’s support through grants helps grow these farms. It mixes business growth with new technology for making food sustainably.

Kalera is another great example. It uses high-tech solutions to grow lots of greens indoors. With the Dryponics process, Kalera aims to be very efficient. And they’re not stopping at Singapore. With plans for farms in places like Denver and Seattle, the future of green farming looks bright.

By using new farming methods in the city, Singapore is not just making food. It’s showing how a city can support both eating well and caring for the planet. This is done by being creative and investing in new ideas.

The “30 by 30” goal in Singapore aims to produce 30% of its food at home by 2030. The country now depends heavily on food imports, getting over 90% from other places. This initiative is key to lessen this need, especially after the COVID-19 showed the risks of long supply chains.

The Singapore Food Authority (SFA) is leading the charge on the “30 by 30” plan. It doesn’t just set high goals but also gives financial help. For example, the Agri-food Cluster Transformation Fund put $3.8 million towards new projects from a total of $60 million. The R&D program received a big boost of $144 million.

Private companies are stepping up with new ways to grow food in Singapore. They are using less space, water, and chemicals, benefitting the environment. Genesis One Tech Farm (GoFarm) shows how high-tech farms can produce a lot using very little water.

This partnership between businesses and the government fosters new technologies. It does a lot more than secure food. It also creates jobs in various fields. People are joining in too, with projects in their homes and communities focused on better ways to grow plants and raise fish.

By combining efforts across the board, the “30 by 30” plan is bringing high-tech farming and eco-friendly practices to life. This move is steering Singapore towards a future where food is greener and more secure.

Sky Greens has brought about a big change in how we farm in cities. This is especially important in places like Singapore, where there’s not much space. By using vertical farming, they are able to grow more food in less space.

The A-frame structure at Sky Greens is special. It lets them use space better by stacking crops on top of each other. In fact, this design means they can grow five times more food than usual. This deals with the problem of not having enough farm land in the country.

Sky Greens uses a smart system to grow its crops. It’s a hydraulic water-driven system that moves the A-frames around so each plant gets enough sunlight. This way, they use nature to help their plants grow well without using a lot of energy.

Since Singapore relies a lot on water imports, this system is important. It saves a lot of water, which is crucial in a country where much of the water is brought in from outside.

Sky Greens doesn’t just farm, it farms a lot. It meets around 2 percent of Singapore’s green vegetable needs. Although its vegetables might be a bit more expensive, their freshness and local origin make them popular.

They plan to grow even more by adding 2,000 A-frames. This shows that you can produce a lot of food without harming the planet. They aim to make sure Singapore always has enough safe local food to eat.

Since 2011, ComCrop has been leading Singapore’s urban farming scene. They use hydroponic systems and indoor farming methods. These help them save on costs and energy while ensuring their crops are pesticide-free. Their focus on quality and consumer health is clear from their efforts to avoid using pesticides.

In rooftop farming, ComCrop shines with its cutting-edge hydroponic systems. They grow veggies in water without the use of soil. This method boosts their farm’s productivity, allowing them to grow more crops close together. For example, their greenhouses in Woodlands can produce around 40 to 50kgs of leafy vegetables daily.

At the start, ComCrop carefully grows seeds in a nursery for two weeks. This period focuses on keeping the young plants healthy with the right water, light, and nutrients. When the plants are ready, they are moved, harvested, and cleaned. This process involves a lot of effort from ComCrop’s team.

ComCrop also works hard to farm in a way that doesn’t harm the environment. They join forces with organizations like Apex Harmony. This helps them support local community efforts, such as including older people in their farming activities, promoting both environmental and social well-being.

ComCrop plays a big role in making the local food scene stronger. They aim to grow enough produce to reduce the need for imports. Every year, they’re working towards producing 220 tonnes of fresh food. This food is sold in places like RedMart and FairPrice Finest. Plus, the SG Fresh Produce logo shows these items are truly locally sourced. This supports local farmers and helps meet the country’s food security goals.

Urban areas, like Singapore, are changing how we grow and eat food thanks to innovative farming. Grobrix is a leader in this change. It offers farming solutions for residential and commercial areas, making sure everyone benefits.

The Grobrix Farm Wall doesn’t need soil to grow up to 20 plants. It uses hydroponics for efficient water use and to circulate nutrients well. What’s more, running a Grobrix Farm Wall costs less than 10 SGD a month, saving a lot of money.

Grobrix is big on circular farming, ensuring everything is reused and waste is minimal. They grow over 40 kinds of non-GMO food in a sustainable way. This makes their farming great for cities.

Grobrix for Home makes farming easy for people living in cities. The Grobrix Farm Wall fits right into homes, needing just two power outlets. It allows everyone to grow healthy food indoors.

Grobrix is also making a big impact in the commercial farming world. Their efficient farming solutions help businesses support Singapore’s goal of more local food by 2030.

Grobrix is a great example of how farming can be good for the environment and successful in business. It’s especially important in places like Singapore, where farming space is limited, and most food is imported.

Singapore is aiming high with its move to grow food vertically. Growing food on buildings and in stacked layers, it wants to need less food from other places. The plan is to make 30% of its food by 2030, which is a big jump from less than 10% not long ago. Many companies are coming up with new ways to grow food closer to home.

One shining example is Sky Greens, which started in 2012. They use very little water to grow a lot of food. Their setup turns a tower with plants on it using only half a litre of water, producing ten times more food than normal farms would. This breakthrough is helping Singapore move closer to feeding itself without straining water resources.

Then there’s ComCrop, setting up shop in 2011, growing food on roofs with smart technology. It needs just a fraction of the water traditional farming does. It produces 150 kg of vegetables every month, with the potential to grow over 25,000 kg in a year. This smart farming is key in making sure there’s enough local food and less need to import.

The government is also giving a hand through the Singapore Food Agency. They support high-tech farming with money and help. By using drones and smart sensors, farmers are finding better ways to grow food. They’re also saving water by collecting rain and recycling water. All this work helps Singapore get closer to its goal of being more self-sufficient with food.

Singapore’s move to grow food vertically is very practical. With strong support and new technology, Singapore is leading in growing food in cities. It’s on the path to be more self-sufficient and eco-friendly with food.

The GroGrace facility is a special place for growing food in cities. It uses the latest Dutch horticulture technologies to yield nutrient-rich crops all year. Covering 650 square metres, it shows how well technology and farming can work together.

GroGrace uses a cool way of growing plants called dry hydroponics. It mixes the top Dutch farming tech with smart growing methods. This setup saves water and feeds plants exactly what they need. The result? Healthier plants that give more colourful crops.

The farm uses four levels to grow crops, with 180 square metres each. The top levels grow leafy greens and herbs. The bottom one is for trying new things. This method makes the most of space and helps grow a lot of food.

GroGrace can produce 33 tonnes of good food each year. This supports the plan in Singapore to make 30% of food locally by 2030. The farm not only helps make sure there’s enough food but also shows dry hydroponics can really work in cities.

GroGrace does well thanks to working with top companies and the Singapore Food Agency. It’s part of a big international effort to make sure there’s always enough to eat.

Since 2018, Artisan Green has led the way in vertical farming. It recently joined forces with Siemens to change the game. Together, they’re using new technology to make crops better and farms more efficient. This move shows the power and promise of smart farming in Singapore.

The link between Artisan Green and Siemens is boosting crops a lot. They are aiming for a 25 times bigger harvest of vegetables and herbs, while using less water. This could see a massive 95% drop in water usage.

Plus, their farms will only need 15 kWh to grow each kilo of produce. This saves energy, helping Singapore aim to grow more of its food locally by 2030.

Smart farming has changed Artisan Green’s game. They’re using new tools like Precision Nutrient Injectors to reduce power need and labour. The use of such tech puts Artisan Green ahead in the move to clean, green farming without pesticides.

Working with Siemens doesn’t just help their business. It’s expected to produce 25 tonnes of leafy greens a month. That’s over 134,000 fresh meals monthly. This drive supports local food safety and shows how smart farming is a sustainable choice.

Hydroponic systems have changed how we farm in cities, especially places with little space like Singapore. These new ways of growing plants without soil are key for making enough food sustainably. They let us grow crops using less land, water, and resources.

Hydroponics use water very wisely. For example, ComCrop in Singapore saves 90% water when growing veggies, making over 25,000 kg in their first year. Sky Greens also uses water smartly. They need just a bit of water to move a big tower of plants, making ten times more food compared to growing in soil.

Nutrients are also managed well in hydroponics. Instead of soil, plants get their food from special solutions. This careful way of feeding plants makes them grow faster and with more vitamins. For example, tomatoes grown this way have more vitamin C than those from soil.

Using hydroponics is part of a bigger plan in Singapore. They want to grow 30% of their food at home by 2030. This ’30 by 30′ plan needs hydroponics to be successful. It’s a way to make agriculture there more stable and secure.

Vertical farming is changing thanks to new technology. These changes make farming more efficient and eco-friendly. This is mostly due to using automation. Automation helps farmers control water, light, temperature, and fertiliser easily.

Automation makes farming indoors very precise. A team from Siemens and Artisan Green showed this by making vegetables grow 25 times more. It means less work is needed to get more food. And they’re saving a lot of water too, with a 95% cut in use.

Energy software is important for saving power in farming. It makes farms run better and cheaper. In Singapore, they’re aiming to use just 15 kWh for each kilogram of food. This is key for urban farming and reducing imports.

Getting the most food from vertical farms is important. The latest tech helps farms get bigger and better. Sharing plant science knowledge worldwide is part of this. The goal is for Singapore to grow 30% of its food by 2030. This uses less energy and fewer resources, showing a new way for sustainable farming in the city.

Vertical farming shows lots of potential but faces several hurdles. Singapore’s small land area and changing weather make farming tough. We’ll look at how farmers there are tackling these obstacles with smart solutions.

Space is a big issue in Singapore for regular farming. Nearly all its land can’t grow crops traditionally. So, Singapore has embraced vertical farming. By growing crops on top of each other, farmers create more room. This boosts the amount of food they can grow without expanding the city.

Dealing with climate change is key to long-term farming success. Vertical farms provide a climate-proof solution. Crops grow inside, shielded from the weather. This method also uses smart technology. Tools like automated systems and LED lights improve plant growth. They make vertical farms even more dependable.

Now, let’s check out a table. It shows different challenges and the solutions used in vertical farming:

Solving the issues in vertical farming leads to a bright future for city growing. As we learn more and use new tech, we make farming better. This keeps vertical farming a great choice for growing food in cities.

The future of urban agriculture in Singapore looks bright. The country is diving into innovative urban farming with a focus on being green and strong. They’re using new methods like farming upwards and indoors.

These methods could really help make sure there’s enough food, especially since Singapore has so little land for growing. Right now, only 1% of Singapore’s land is used for farming.

Singapore used to be top in the world for being able to feed itself in 2019. Now, it’s fallen to the 70th spot by 2022. This shows the urgent need to grow more food at home.

With the goal to have 30% of food come from local farms by 2030, Singapore is really pushing itself. This is a big jump from the less than 10% it makes now.

The city-state is using the latest urban farming tools to meet this challenge. Companies like Green Harvest and ComCrop are front and centre. They’re making sure the food grown locally is packed with nutrients. This is because it takes less time to get from farm to table.

• Locally grown foods have higher nutrient content compared to imports.
• Urban farming reduces carbon emissions and minimizes food wastage.

An example is Sky Greens’ special way of farming upwards. It uses very little water but makes a lot of food. Their way creates ten times more than regular crop fields.

ComCrop, on the other hand, grows food in water without soil. This uses 90% less water than farming in the ground. They make over 25,000 kg of food each year with their method on a 36,000-square-foot roof.

The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) is a big help in this farming journey. With their support and cash, they push local businesses to farm smart in the city. They see farming upwards as the future of feeding cities in a way that’s good for the planet.

This shows how Singapore is leading the way. They prove that big cities can make enough food for everyone locally, even when facing big challenges.

Singapore is deeply committed to vertical farming beyond just business and government. It includes the local community and schools. These efforts are key to making a farming lifestyle more about saving nature and getting everyone interested in growing food in cities. By getting everyone involved, they share the dream of the country’s farming future.

Teaching people about green farming is very important. These lessons show how to use less water by up to 90% when growing plants without soil. They also support buying food from local farmers, which is good for the environment because it reduces pollution from transporting food.

Singapore organises many lessons and practice sessions for people wanting to farm. It’s given around $50 million to help small farmers in the last three years. For example, students learn by helping out on fish farms. Even younger kids get to learn about farming by growing plants at school.

There’s a big plan in Singapore called “30 by 30”. It aims to get 30% of food to come from local farms by 2030. This can be tough because there’s not much space to farm and not a lot of water either.

Singapore mixes community work, teaching the public, and training in farming to grow better crops high in the city. This way, everyone learns and benefits from green farming.

More than half of us live in cities now, making farming in small spaces vital. In places like Singapore, where many people live close together, it’s key to find new ways to grow food. Even though Singapore is very secure in food (The Economist Group, 2019), it gets 90% of its food from elsewhere (Singapore Food Agency, 2019). This shows how important it is for urban areas to think about their food sources.

One smart solution is vertical farming. This method grows crops in layers up high, saving space. With nearly no land for farming, Singapore uses its buildings for growing food. Thanks to improving tech, this way of farming can be a lesson for other busy cities too.

Singapore has a big goal to produce more food locally by 2030. It wants to meet 30% of its own food needs from its farms (Singapore Food Agency, 2019). By growing up, not out, Singapore is showing the way for other cities. This helps make sure there’s enough food for everyone, even as cities get bigger. It’s all about being smart with the space we have and looking towards a sustainable future in farming.