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Urban farming goes high-tech

A new breed of urban farmers are bringing new ideas and technology to local food production.

Tay Suan Chiang

Published Fri, Aug 20, 2021 · 05:50 AM

Agriculture/Farming

AT THE tender age of 26, Alexander Tan is already living out his retirement dream. "Growing and providing food gives me great joy, and it is my retirement plan," he says.

He recalls last year, when the announcement of the Circuit Breaker led many consumers rushing to the supermarkets to stock up, and there was also the worry that Singapore's food supply would be affected.

"Food disruption during the pandemic made me realise that my retirement plan is needed now - to help Singapore become more food independent," says Mr Tan, who graduated with a diploma in urban agricultural technology.

Mr Tan started Agritisan, a 1,300 sq ft rooftop farm that can produce 1,000kg of local leafy vegetables, Western and Oriental herbs and edible flowers, per month. The firm designed its own tower farming sys…