Singapore agri-food innovation an area of new growth opportunities

SINGAPORE's endeavours in the agri-food space, led by an imperative to cut over-reliance on imports which currently supply 90 per cent of its food needs, are turning into a golden opportunity to prove the city-state's prowess in a new growth sector - agritech.

From vertical farms that produce leafy greens, herbs and fruits and promise higher yields minus the exposure to weather vagaries, to the world's first-of-its-kind floating fish farms which reportedly can produce 20 times more than coastal fish farms, Singapore's big moves amid a global food revolution appear to be bearing fruit.

The city-state has also walked the extra mile and come up with its own standard for organic produce grown in urban environments here - the world's first and a major boon for local urban farms eager to expand beyond Singapore and compete internationally.