Agriculture in Singapore

In the 1960s, agriculture contributed around 4% of Singapore’s Gross Domestic Product. With the strong focus on urban development, its economic focus shifted away from farming and moved towards manufacturing. By 2001, agriculture‘s role in the economy was almost nonexistent.

With the unprecedented acceleration of climate change today, Singapore’s agricultural sector has seen renewed interest with the significant agritech investment spurred by Singapore’s 30 by 30 announcement. Enterprise Singapore supports Singapore’s food security strategy by encouraging global investment in the country’s food sector. Furthermore, Singaporean entrepreneurs can utilise the Singapore Food Agency’s Agriculture Productivity Fund which aims to help co-fund the test-bedding of new technologies.

Singapore’s strong innovation climate and supporting infrastructure allow new agri-food technologies to take root. To deepen research in this promising field, local institutions like the National University of Singapore and Nanyang Technological University have opened an agritech centre and agri-food innovation lab, respectively.