Creepy-crawlies could be tomorrow's chow

Singapore

FANCY a bug burger, anyone?

While indoor or rooftop farms for greens and marine fish farms are not that new, "alternative proteins" like insects and lab-grown meat could be a novel addition to diners' plates.

Government agency Enterprise Singapore (ESG) has named urban farming, aquaculture and alternative proteins as key growth segments in agri-food technology, a sector where the Republic is making a grand push.

Kee Ai Nah, executive director for ESG's lifestyle and consumer cluster, told The Business Times in an e-mail that, "as with most other emerging sectors, it is critical that we start right by having a long-term view of creating a robust agri-tech ecosystem".

"In a nascent sector like agri-tech, access to capital, expertise and talent is an oft-cited challenge," she said, pointing to her agency's business assistance schemes, such as intellectual property development, networking and venture cap…