Page 11 - Demo
P. 11
InnovationinSustainableFarmingBridgingTechnologyandMarketNeedsWithonly1%ofitslandavailableforagriculturaluseSingaporesagri-foodsectorhasembracedcreativityandinnovationtoovercomechallengesFromrooftopfarmstoindoorverticalsystemstheindustryisleveragingonadvancedtechnologieslikehydroponicsclimatecontrolsensorsandprecisionfarmingtoolstomaximiseproductivityHowevertheroadtosustainabilityrequiresmorethanjusthigh-techsolutions–itdemandsastrategicalignmentoftechnologycropselectionandmarketneedsSuccessstorieslikeArtisanGreendemonstratehowmarket-drivenapproachescanmakeadifferenceSpecialisinginhigh-demandproductslikebabyspinachthefarmhasmanagedtoachieveconsistentprofitabilitywithconsumerdemandoftenexceedingsupplySimilarlySGVegFarmslocatedontherooftopsoftwomulti-storeycarparksinSembawangisstrategicallyoperatingoutdoorstokeepcostssustainableByharnessingnaturalsunlightforitsgreenhousesandonlyusingLEDlightsforitsnurseriesSGVegFarmshasmanagedtoachievesignificantenergysavingsMsEyleenGohthefounderanddirectorofSGVegFarmsaddsthatherfarmsecosystemwasadaptedfromprovenmodelsusedinlargeoverseasfarmshenceimbuingits technologicalapplicationsandinnovations with thesecurityofeconomic viabilityUsingprecision farming toolsandamechanisedsystemtomovehydroponicstraysintoplaceforgreateroperationalefficiencythefarmisabletoproduceabout200kgofmainlyAsianleafygreenslikexiaobaicaiandchyesimeverydayAndaccordingtolocalfarmersAsianleafygreensarepreciselywhatlocalconsumerswantasthesevegetablesmakeupthemajorityofthelocaldietHoweverProfessor VeeraSekaranof theNationalUniversityofSingaporesDepartmentofBiologicalSciencesnotes thatexistingindoor farmsaredesignedforvegetableslikelettuceratherthanAsianleafygreensMoreimportantlyheaddsthatexistingseedsforAsianvegetablesdonotthriveinindoorenvironmentsApromisingsolutionliesindiversifyingcroptypestobetteralignwithlocaldietaryhabitsAsianleafygreensforexampleareastapleinSingaporeancuisinebutarelesscommonlycultivatedinhigh-techsetupsdue tounsuitableseed varietiesExploringalternativeslikemushroom farming– whichrequiresnosunlightandlowerenergyinputs–couldofferasustainablepathwayforindoorfarmsSINGAPOREAGRI-FOODBUSINESSDIRECTORY2025/2026
