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8SINGAPOREAGRI-FOODBUSINESSDIRECTORY2023/2024ToencourageinnovationandsustainabilityTheLiveabilityChallengeisaglobalcrowdsourcingplatformthathopestoacceleratethelaunchofsolutionstocombaturban challenges in cities The SFA and Temasekareco-presenting theFoodGrandChallengeaspartofthe2023iterationofTheLiveabilityChallengeTheFoodGrandChallengewillfocusonsupportingdisruptivecircularurbanagricultureandaquaculturesolutionsaswellasalternativeproteininnovationsThewinnersofTheLiveabilityChallengewillreceiveanewlydoubledprizeofS$2millioninordertotestitsnewtechnologyandmovetowardscommercialisationinSingaporeAstheSingaporeFoodStorydevelopstheimportanceofhavingahighlyskilledagrifoodworkforcecannotbeunderstandedSFAcollaborateswithInstitutesofHigherLearningandindustryplayerstoimplementtrainingprogrammesforstudentsandadultlearners toprepare themforanagri-foodcareerIn2022SFApartneredWorkforceSingapore(WSG)andRepublicPolytechnic(RP)tolaunchtheCareerConversionProgrammefortheAgri-techsectortoequipmid-careerprofessionalswiththerelevantknowledgeandskillstojointheindustryasanAgri-techSpecialistorAgri-techOperatorRepublicPolytechnicofferstheDiplomainEnvironmental&MarineSciencewhichtrainsstudentstodevelopsustainableenvironmentalandaquaculturesolutionsSkillsarefocusedintheareasofagricultureandaquaculturesciencesengineeringandinfo-commtechnologyFromApril2023theInstituteofTechnicalEducation (ITE) will offer a Work-StudyDiplomainAgriculture&AquacultureTechnologyTheDiplomawillequipin-serviceemployeesandfreshgraduatesfromITENitecandHigherNitecwithengineeringskillstooperatehightechagricultureandaquaculturesystemsAquacultureTheaquaculturesectorisasignificantcontributortoSingapores30by30goalwithseafoodbeingidentifiedasanareaofpotentialwithitbeinganutritiousfoodthatcanbegrownlocallyTheSFAhascreatedtheAquaculturePlanwiththevisiontogrowtheaquacultureindustryintoasustainablesectorcontributingtoSingaporesfoodsecurityandeventuallybecomingaleaderinsustainabletropicalaquacultureAquacultureisbeingcollaborativelydevelopedwithpublic/privateoverseasandlocalpartnersIndeedAquaPolisissettobecomeamajorpartofSingaporesFoodStory20TheAquaPolisprogrammebringstogetherresearchinstitutesInstitutionsofHigherLearningfarmsandcompaniestocreatesustainableaquaculturesolutionsSomeoftheseincludeSFAandresearchinstitutionssuchasTemasekLifeSciencesLaboratoryandNationalUniversityofSingaporeMrLimKokThaiChiefExecutiveOfficerofSFA wasquotedassayingSFA welcomes thisstrategiccollaborationItisexciting toseeR&DtalentsfromlocalandoverseasinstitutionsaswellasourkeyindustrypartnerscomingtogetherwithinnovationandsustainabilityinmindtobuildourcapabilitiesandcapacityinaquaculturewithinSingaporeandbeyondOuraquacultureindustryplays akeyrolein our foodsecurity andI am confident that these collectiveeffortswillstrengthenourfoodsecurityandbuildaresilientfoodfutureforSingaporeThroughtheAquaPolisprogrammescientistswilldevelopsolutionsforrealworldaquaculturechallengeswiththeobjectiveofaddressingproblemsfromfarmsForexampleresearcherswilllookintodevelopingsuperiorfingerlingssuitedfortropicalaquaculturewithtraitssuchasfastergrowthratesandreductioninfishmortalityfromcommonfishdiseasesfromthepresent70percentto100percenttobetween20percentto50percent