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COMMENTARY

Time to rethink Singapore’s ‘30 by 30’ target for locally produced nutritional needs

Better decisions can be made without the pressure of an arguably unrealistic deadline

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Elysia Tan

Elysia Tan

Published Thu, May 23, 2024 · 05:00 AM
    • Local producers' share of vegetables and seafood consumed in Singapore has slipped over the past three years, though hen shell production has risen.
    • Local producers' share of vegetables and seafood consumed in Singapore has slipped over the past three years, though hen shell production has risen. PHOTO: BT FILE

    SINGAPORE’S agriculture industry has seen a spate of closures. Oh Chin Huat Hydroponics Farms closed in 2021. Lian Wah Hang Quail & Poultry Farm shut down in mid-2023. Barramundi Group ceased fish production in Singapore shortly after. And just last month, VertiVegies scrapped plans for an indoor vegetable farm.

    Beyond these individual setbacks, national-level statistics suggest that Singapore’s “30 by 30” goal – locally producing 30 per cent of its nutritional needs by 2030 – looks increasingly improbable.

    It might be time to drop that specific target and re-evaluate what the country should aim for.

    Food securityAgriculture/FarmingFood supplySingapore Food AgencySpotlight

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