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The water cycle shows the continuous movement of water within the Earth and atmosphere. It is a complex system that includes many different processes. Liquid water evaporates into water vapor, condenses to form clouds, and precipitates back to earth in the form of rain and snow.  The water cycle can bring benefits like providing clean drinking water to regulating the flow of flood events and creating opportunities for water-based recreation and cultural practices.

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https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/remote-controlled-cars-race-community-open-spaces-woodlands-3214416

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SINGAPORE: Several vehicles speed around a track, kicking up dust and drawing raucous cheers from people nearby.

The race barely falters when a car collides with another. It ends up flipping several times, then ploughs into a truck and comes to a standstill.

Despite the carnage, only the pride of the vehicles' controllers is injured. They step onto an elevated portion of the track and adjust their vehicles before the race kicks off once more.

This was the scene of a remote-controlled car off-road session along Rosewood Drive in Woodlands on a Sunday morning earlier this month.

Only three racers were there when CNA turned up at 9am, but the number steadily grew to about 15 as the hours passed and the sun's heat grew more intense.

The makeshift remote-controlled car race track, unofficially named Woodgrove RC Plains, sits on a publicly accessible hilly field and is surrounded by private residential homes. The patch of field where the track is has been naturally stripped of grass at most places, lending a rugged - and bright orange - look to the area.

Remote-controlled vehicle enthusiasts told CNA that while the community was still relatively small a few years ago, it has expanded in recent times, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. Social media has also boosted interest.

However, they cited concerns such as a lack of open spaces in Singapore and more erratic weather that affects whether they can play.

They added that the Woodlands field is also slated for development in the future, though there is one other open space close to the Lorong Halus Wetland in the northeastern region of Singapore.

WHAT ARE REMOTE-CONTROLLED VEHICLES?

Remote-controlled vehicles fall into two categories: Toy and hobby. The latter is what the community primarily races, and players control them with a transmitter.

These vehicles come in varying types and can cost hundreds - or even thousands - of dollars, depending on the model and what upgrades someone wants to invest in. This includes upgrading the engine, swapping out the wheels or changing the batteries.

Enthusiasts in Singapore flock to a handful of shops around the island or buy parts online.

While some at the Woodlands session have been racing remote-controlled vehicles for up to two decades, many are also relatively new to the scene. This has led to sizeable growth in the community in the past few years.

Mr Mohammed Raqesh Mustafa, who runs a Facebook group dedicated to the remote-controlled vehicle scene in Singapore with close to 2,000 members, first got into remote-controlled cars in the mid-2000s.

The 46-year-old then rejoined the community in early 2020 after seeing a friend post about it on social media. The father-of-two now owns more than a dozen remote-controlled cars, which he stores in his flat along with the Star Wars figurines he collected over many years.

Mr Raqesh told CNA that only a handful of people would show up during their weekly Sunday sessions then, but that has grown to between 10 and 40 depending on the weather. Others race on Saturdays or even weekdays after work.

The WhatsApp group he runs has also grown to more than 70 people since he started it in October last year.

As the owner of a debt solutions company, Mr Raqesh said he loves helping people get out of debt but this involves "a lot of stress", with some clients occasionally on the verge of suicide.

When he races remote-controlled cars, all that stress from work melts away.

"It's an outlet for me," he elaborated. "I find it therapeutic, I find it fun. I enjoy getting together with all my friends here to play."

A single racing session usually lasts about three to four hours, he added. The hobbyists stand on stools to view the track from a higher perspective, manipulating their vehicles with radio controllers and bantering as they attempt to overtake one another - the main aim of their race.

The "route" at the Woodlands track is marked out by hoses, cones and tyres laid on the ground. Because the track features several natural humps, the remote-controlled cars are able to soar in the air as they go around the circuit.

At any one time, there are usually at least five remote-controlled cars racing one another. The sound drowns out that of real-life vehicles travelling along the Seletar Expressway, located right next to the field.

After the session, most of them hang around to chat under the shade of trees or a makeshift shelter they set up, which can be easily dismantled.

Mr Raqesh and others said that the authorities have mostly not bothered them so far unless ramps or permanent structures are installed at the tracks.

They added that over at Woodlands, nothing has been done to alter the landscape except for some light maintenance, such as compacting the soil with a shovel when rainfall loosens it.

In October last year, the Singapore Land Authority issued a letter ordering the removal of "unauthorised radio-controlled tracks and other items" at the Lorong Halus track, located at Pasir Ris Coast Industrial Park 6. It was a brief and rare bout of trouble for the community.

Nevertheless, such incidents highlight the problem of finding suitable off-road spaces to race remote-controlled cars.

Mr Mohd Razib Abdul Rahim, 64, has been in the community for more than two decades and witnessed how open spaces in Singapore have dwindled over the years.

The motor workshop owner first began racing remote-controlled cars on tarmac, which was popular at the time.

As time passed and the space "became not enough", he switched to off-road remote-controlled vehicles so he can play at Woodlands or East Coast Park when his family goes there for picnics.

When CNA met him, he had brought along the largest vehicle among everyone there, though he jokingly confessed that he did not know exactly how heavy it was.

For another enthusiast, 48-year-old Faizal Kamis, regulations were what made him turn to remote-controlled car racing.

Mr Faizal, who works as an audio-visual executive, said that he first got into remote-controlled planes and drones more than 20 years ago.

When drones became more popular and the authorities here imposed stricter laws on flying unmanned aircraft in certain areas, he got into remote-controlled cars instead.

Mr Faizal helps to maintain the Woodlands track and was one of the first few to discover it. The track had previously been used by those playing remote-controlled crawlers, which are slower and sport much larger wheels, among other differences.

Mr Raqesh said that he hopes their tracks can last. "Because seriously, in Singapore, there's very, very little space and place to play," he noted.

"I think we need more space because RC is not only for us adults. We bring our kids, play together, it's a family-bonding thing, and to me, it's a very healthy thing. Hopefully, the Government gives us an actual fixed place for us to really make the ramps we want."

Mr Raqesh added: "In Malaysia and even in the US, the tracks are really cool, really big. And the ramps, wow, (the remote-controlled cars) can fly so high. Sometimes when we see that, we are jealous because we really can't do it here."

The community has been asking "relevant organisations" to have a designated place for remote-controlled car racing, but this is still in the works, he said.

Aside from space issues, Mr Raqesh said that wet weather has ruined many plans for them, as is the case with any outdoor activity. Muddy tracks can also cause harm to remote-controlled cars.

When Singapore experienced unusually wet conditions at the end of last year, the group could not meet weekly. CNA had to cancel two scheduled interviews on Sunday mornings in December due to the rain. A relatively dry start to 2023 then brought everyone out again.

Despite all this, the fun of racing remote-controlled cars has more than eclipsed these challenges, the enthusiasts said.

Many turn up at Woodlands to take a gander and end up joining the community, said Mr Raqesh.

"I really recommend it to everyone. Come here, have fun."

Mr Razib has got two of his sons, now aged 18 and 20, hooked on the hobby as well.

This gives them the chance to hang out during weekends as the younger men are not usually home on weekdays - one is a student at the Institute of Technical Education, while the other is a full-time national serviceman.

Mr Razib said: "It's good also because I will ask them, how is your schooling? Everything is good? Any personal problems? From there, we have close communication with each other.

"That's the thing I like most."

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At Woodlands, remote-controlled car enthusiasts find a rare space to race their stress away

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SINGAPORE: Several vehicles speed around a track, kicking up dust and drawing raucous cheers from people nearby. The race barely falters when a car collides with another. It ends up flipping several times, then ploughs into a truck and comes to a standstill. Despite the carnage, only the pride of the vehicles' controllers is injured.

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soil contains billions of tiny organisms and is essential for the health of all terrestrial ecosystems, it contributes to biodiversity, and acts as a water filter

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residents may gain aesthetic experiences from natural objects in urban neighbourhoods. An example would be the community garden in tiong bahru neighbourhood where residents have the presence of green spaces

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Soil formation is a supporting ecosystem service that provides a habitat for billions of organisms, contributes to biodiversity, and acts as a water filter which ensure that human activities such as agriculture can take place.

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the water cycle helps produce a continuous supply of water for humans and plants

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Walking at nature parks or walking trails, or hiking at hiking spots allows people to gain aesthetic experiences while engaging in recreational activities.

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supporting services are basic natural cycles that nature uses to function. an example of it is the water cycle, the cycling of nutrients in the soil and photosynthesis.

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Using parks as a recreational space to learn about different things such as Haw Par Villa, which teaches us about the Chinese culture as well as the founders of the park is an example.

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supporting services are the most basic natural cycles that nature needs to function , these include water cycle , photosynthesis and the cycling of nutrients between organisms and the soil

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Hiking in the forest and interaction with the green spaces around or walking at East Coast park for recreational activities and relief stress.

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An example of cultural ecosystem services is macritchie reservoir which is subject matter of educational value for school trips/books.

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during photosynthesis, plants absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen, and this maintains the oxygen content of the earth’s atmosphere. Thus, it can ensure that all the other ecosystems services can still function.

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Walking and cycling at the punggol park as they are the benefits people gain from their interactions with different environmental spaces, such as woods or parks, and the activities.

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Doing recreational activities like walking , running and exercises like Taichi , Zumba in the nearby parks ( eg Bishan- Ang Mo Kio park , East Coast park ) or exercise corners . These can help to improve their physical and mental health.

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From beaches, people can do many things in the water like surfing, jet-skiing, fishing and casal boat rides. On land, things liek picnics, beach volleyball and many other activities can be done. These activities can foster social bonds and allows many tourists to try something different as well as having new experiences. Some places like

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Walking, cycling, swimming and dragon boating including recreational and educational at bishan-ang mo Kio park as well as at Kallang river

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Boats and boating--Equipment and supplies

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a supporting ecosystem service is the water cycle. it starts with evaporation of the sea or oceans, which the next process precipitation brings the water droplets in the air together to make clouds that once heavy enough, bring the water down back to earth. this cycle continues to provide people, animals and plants with water.

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https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/more-hdb-blocks-in-tampines-could-get-community-gardens-farms-to-step-up-food-production-capability

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More HDB blocks in Tampines could get community gardens, farms to step up food production capability

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Town may explore an ecosystem to help distribute farms' harvests commercially at a lower cost to residents. Read more at straitstimes.com.

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the trees in bishan ang mo kio park regulate local air quality by removing pollutants and impurities from surrounding air

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Regulating water flows help the vegetation in Ang Mo Kio Park to limit surface runoff which prevents soil erosion

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chevon & Jolene - Regulate local air quality

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chevon & Jolene - Regulate local air quality

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c) they remove air pollutants through photosynthesis, taking in carbon dioxide and giving out clean oxygen, improving air quality -- for residents to breathe in oxygen -->help to improve on their health

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b)  The roots of the plants can reduce surface runoff by containing water in the soil.

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The vegetation cover reduces surface runoff, by retaining water in the soil. The roots bind the salt regulation soil erosion.

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Trees take in carbon dioxide and give out oxygen by photosynthesis, thus improving our air quality :D

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trees in Bishan lower the sir temperature by providing shade to residents forests can also cool areas by generating rainfall

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the trees help by the interception of particulate matter on its surfaces and the absorption of gaseous pollutants through the leaf stomata which removes it from the surrounding atmosphere.

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Trees and vegetation lower surface and air temperatures by providing shade and through evapotranspiration.

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trees can reduce rainwater surface runoff by absorbing and storing the water in their soil. this is a process which is called water flow regulation.

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the trees stop soil erosion from happening by reducing the amount of water that enters the soil.

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Regulating water flows
The vegetation cover in bishan-ang mo kio park can reduce surface runoff by retaining water in the soil. This is also known as water flow regulation

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Kaylea and Feivel - Regulate water flows

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Kaylea and Feivel - Regulate water flows

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b) trees reduce surface runoff by storing water in the soil and prevent soil erosion.

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https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/nine-multi-storey-carpark-rooftops-in-singapore-to-be-converted-to-urban-farms

urban farms on carpark rooftops

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Nine multi-storey carpark rooftops in Singapore to be converted to urban farms

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The sites range from 1,808 sq m - or one-third of a football field - to 3,311 sq m - or three-fifths of a football field. Read more at straitstimes.com.

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Bishan ang mo kio park help regulate water flow by planting vegetation to decreasing surface runoff as the plants will absorb the water to ensure there is no excess water on the surface

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hui jing and Maegan - Regulate Local climate

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hui jing and Maegan - Regulate Local climate

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Trees in Bishan Ang Mo Kio park can lower surface and air temperatures by providing sufficient shades for residents. On a larger scale, forests can also help to cool areas by producing rainfall.

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reduces the chances of soil erosion , increases water flow regulation

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Regulating local climate
The trees provided in the park can lower the surrounding temperatures as they provide shade for those at the park, and also produce an increased amount of rain in its surroundings so temperatures also decrease with the rainfall

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Nine multi-storey carpark rooftops in Singapore to be converted to urban farms

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The sites range from 1,808 sq m - or one-third of a football field - to 3,311 sq m - or three-fifths of a football field. Read more at straitstimes.com.

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https://www.bbc.com/news/business-61919430

-> at public housing estates carpark

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How Singapore is turning multi-storey car parks into farms

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The densely populated South East Asian island nation imports more than 90% of the food it consumes.

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https://bollywoodfarms.com/

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https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/urban-farming-hdb-carpark-rooftop-jurong-sembawang-woodlands-2199291

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SINGAPORE: Three bidders have won the right to rent seven new urban farming sites located on the rooftops of Housing and Development Board (HDB) multi-storey carparks around Singapore.

The new sites comprise a single farming plot at Jurong West and three cluster sites containing two farming plots each at Bukit Panjang, Sembawang and Woodlands, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) and HDB said on Friday (Sep 24).

Together, these sites are expected to produce about 680 tonnes of vegetables annually, said SFA's CEO Lim Kok Thai.

The sites at Jurong West and Woodlands were awarded to Tomato Town, the Bukit Panjang sites to ATS Landscaping and Construction, and those at Sembawang to Winarto.

The successful proposals featured technological innovations like hydroponic and vertical farming systems with "Internet of Things" elements and automated climate control, said Mr Lim.

Making more spaces available for commercial farming is in line with Singapore's "30 by 30" vision, said SFA and HDB. The target aims for the country to produce 30 per cent of its nutritional needs by 2030.

An earlier batch of HDB carpark rooftop farming sites awarded to bidders in September last year was expected to produce around 1,600 tonnes of vegetables a year.

"Given Singapore's limited land and space, the use of alternative spaces for urban farming will bring food production closer to the community," said Mr Lim.

He said that the COVID-19 pandemic has also heightened the importance of local production to ensure a steady supply of food.

"Now more than ever, our local farms must leverage technology to grow more with less," said Mr Lim.

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Tenders awarded for 7 urban farming sites on HDB carpark rooftops

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SINGAPORE: Three bidders have won the right to rent seven new urban farming sites located on the rooftops of Housing and Development Board (HDB) multi-storey carparks around Singapore. The new sites comprise a single farming plot at Jurong West and three cluster sites containing two farming plots each at Bukit Panjang, Sembawang and Woodlands, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) and HDB said on Friday (Sep 24).

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https://qz.com/1988592/citiponics-is-turned-a-parking-lot-roof-into-an-urban-farm

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Danielle Chan, co-founder of Citiponics, grew up working for her mother's farm in Malaysia, delivering produce to Singapore. "I got into a discussion with one of my family friends and we decided to work on this project together. But the thing is, we really didn't want to continue with traditional farming," Chan explained. "We wanted to look for a more sustainable way of farming with the growing city population, and less arable land. We wanted to see where we were able to grow food in a more creative manner."

Chan looked around her urban environment for under-utilized spaces. "In Singapore, there's a multi-story carpark structure that's available in every neighborhood, and around almost every mall," described Chan. "We decided to see what we could create-a technology that allows us to farm produce safely, productively, and be around the neighborhood area in the community."

A modular, hydroponic, urban farm

In 2018, Citiponics received a permit to start their first carpark rooftop farm. Using a custom-designed, modular hydroponic system, Citiponics can grow up to 25 different kinds of leafy vegetables and herbs without pesticides. According to Chan, the 1,800 square meter (0.5 acre) farm can grow up to 4 tons of food per month using the Citiponics system. The system consumes about 1% of water used in conventional farming, and 10% of water used in other hydroponic systems.

Prices for Citiponics' produce range from $6 for 200 grams of lettuce, to $2 for 200 grams of chye sim, a locally popular vegetable.

Engaging the community with urban farms

"Instead of going to the supermarket for vegetables, now we have residents that just open their window and can see the farm," said Chan. "They get connected to their food source." Citiponics encourages people without agricultural knowledge in Singapore to contribute to their food production process by helping with seeding, transplanting, and harvesting.

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How a parking lot roof was turned into an urban farm in Singapore

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Danielle Chan, co-founder of Citiponics, grew up working for her mother's farm in Malaysia, delivering produce to Singapore. "I got into a discussion with one of my family friends and we decided to work on this project together. But the thing is, we really didn't want to continue with traditional farming," Chan explained.

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https://www.sassymamasg.com/urban-farming-singapore-organic-vegetables/

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Did you know there are vegetable and dairy farms in Singapore? Take your kids on an urban farming tour around these great organic vegetable and fruit farms in Singapore to see where food comes from!

Looking to teach your kids where vegetables come from? There are actually a ton of urban farms in Singapore producing organic fruits, vegetables and herbs! Some even practice hydroponic farming and vertical farming, and many of them welcome visitors for tours. Whether your kiddo is into learning about the natural environment or growing plants themselves - a trip to one of these farms makes a fab day out for kids. Some of these vegetable farms even have on-site cafes for you to enjoy the fresh produce... a true farm-to-table concept. Keep scrolling for 7 urban farms in Singapore you can visit now!

For a day of fun and discovery, Kok Fah Technology Farm will keep the kiddos entertained! The farm is a local family-owned business that's been selling leafy vegetables in Singapore for the past 30 years. Entry to the farm is free and open daily to public and pets from 9am to 5pm. They have a mini 'zoo' area, a sheltered area with tables and benches for picnics, and a showcase R&D hydroponics greenhouse featuring their salad greens and herbs. Their Weekend Market is well-loved by regulars, and stays open through the weekend from 9am to 5pm selling freshly harvested vegetables, exotic imported vegetables and dried goods. They also do guided tours! Tours for the greenhouse include a guided tour through the hydroponics greenhouse, aloe vera demonstration and a lettuce sample pack to take home with their homegrown Honey Aloe Vera Drink. Kok Fah Technology Farm has an extensive list of activities you can add on when you have the farm tour experience, depending on your family's interests. You can also find their fresh produce available at leading supermarket chains, online, for home delivery and group buys.
How much: The market is free to enter. Tours for the greenhouse start from $17 per pax. Requires booking at [email protected]
Kok Fah Technology Farm, 18 Sungei Tengah Road, Singapore 698974, Tel: (+65) 6765 6629, www.kokfahfarm.com.sg Bollywood Veggies, 100 Neo Tiew Road, Kranji, Singapore 719026, www.bollywoodveggies.com
Bollywood Veggies is the place to be if you want to get your hands on fresh and organic vegetables, herbs, and fruits, including uncommon varieties like wintermelon, dill, breadfruit and butterfruit. Grown without the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and growth hormones, these urban farmers are probably most well known for the 20+ varieties of bananas they grow each year - and all are sweet, succulent and hand-selected by the co-founder too. Bollywood Veggies also makes a good family field trip with independent and guided tours of the farm, hands-on horticultural programmes, and culinary classes all available for families to enjoy. Kids can have a go planting rice (and getting all muddy in the process) and take part in other hands-on activities to understand urban farming better. An on-site bistro, Poison Ivy, and a culinary school set against the quaint backdrop of the quiet Kranji countryside make this a truly memorable vegetable farm visit.
Open: Wed to Fri 7am-5:15pm, Sat to Sun & PH 7am-7:30pm (Closed Mon and Tues)
How much: Contact [email protected] or (+65) 9452 6202 to find out the prices for farm tours and activities!

Comcrop: Sustainable Urban Farming

Comcrop offers affordable, healthy and locally grown food. They are Singapore's first sustainable urban farming project, growing the freshest, tastiest and pesticide-free produce in the city. Tours are not currently ongoing, but you can always drop them a message to ask for tour fees and when the next one will likely be held.
How much: Contact Comcrop via Facebook to find out the prices for farm tours and activities!

Comcrop, Rooftop, 15 Woodlands Loop Singapore, Singapore 738322, comcrop.com

Edible Garden City designs, builds and maintains food gardens in Singapore, including a number of restaurants, hotels, schools, residences, and more! Over the last 7 years, they've completed hundreds of food gardens in Singapore, in notable locations such as Marina Bay Sands, Resort World Sentosa and Fairmont Hotel, just to name a few. Edible Garden City supplies fresh herbs, flowers, and vegetables to food and beverage outlets, as well as families through their Citizen Box programme. Their farm is open for farming workshops, and they also create and run farming curriculum in schools to benefit teachers and students.
How much: Prices for workshops can be found here. Contact them at (+65) 8817 4054 for details.
Green Up Singapore, The Nature Nook, 10 Neo Tiew Lane 2, Kranji Gallop Farm Resort, 718813, www.facebook.com/GreenUpSingapore Quan Fa Organic Farm, 35 Murai Farmway, Singapore 709145, Tel: (+65) 6793 7693, www.quanfaorganic.com.sg
Edible Garden City, 60 Jalan Penjara Singapore, Singapore 149375, www.ediblegardencity.com

Located in the grassy expanse near Kranji Reservoir, Green Circle Eco-Farm takes utmost care to ensure nature is treated with respect. All of their hardworking farmers tend to the land without the use of artificial chemicals or pesticides, growing organic fruits, vegetables and herbs that are delicious. Orders can be placed on their online store for delivery or if you have a car you can drive out to the farm and pick them up yourself. If you're feeling adventurous in the kitchen, you can opt for a mystery 'vegetable bag' that contains a surprise selection of handpicked vegetables and fruit. These guys even welcome visitors to the farm, with their special programmes for school children allowing little learners to learn first hand about environmental conservation and the effects of organic farming. Kiddos learn how to appreciate nature, as they see, smell, and feel the plants themselves... all under the tutelage of experienced trainers. If you'd rather tour the farm as a family, Green Circle is open to the public (you're just asked not to disturb the farmers while they work!) although some areas are off bounds to unescorted visitors.
How much: Contact them at (+65) 6861 9286 to find out about visits and tours.

Green Circle Eco-Farm, 41 Neo Tiew Road, Singapore 719028, www.greencircle.com.sg

Green Up Singapore is also known as The Nature Nook, a charming garden within Gallop Kranji Farm Resort that makes for a great day trip with the kids. The garden has over 80 types of herbs, vegetables and fruit trees, and kids are even allowed to harvest some leaves and fruits to take home!
How much: $2 per entry

Free of pesticides, nasty chemicals and harmful fertilizers, this family-run farm grows organic fruits, vegetables, and herbs that can be bought onsite at their little farm shop or at any of the regular farmers' markets they participate in. They even organise regular educational farm tours for families - all you need to do is give them a call to find out when the next one is!
*Covid-19 advisory: Quan Fa Organic Farm is currently closed for visits and tours.

Kin Yan Agrotech: Organic Edible Cactus & Wheatgrass Farm

Another gem in the Sungei Buloh Wetlands Reserve-meets-Kranji countryside pocket, Kin Yan Agrotech is Singapore's largest organic wheatgrass farm and grower of fresh edible cactuses, aloe vera, mushrooms, and roselle fruits. This cute urban farm is open to the public too for families who want to wander around and see how organic wheatgrass is actually produced! You can also pick up a select range of fresh produce whilst you're there, taste their products, or join in on any of their live cooking demos or wheatgrass juicing sessions.
Open: Mon to Sun 9am-5pm.
How much: Farm activity details can be found here. Contact them at 6794 8368 to find out more!
World Farm, 15 Bah Soon Pah Road, Singapore 769962, www.facebook.com/worldfarmsg
Kin Yan Agrotech, 220 Neo Tiew Crescent, Singapore 718830, kinyan.sg

World Farm: Edible Plants & Trendy House Plants

While more of a plant lover's haven than an urban farm, World Farm still makes it to our list for its extensive range of potted herbs, edible plants and IG-worthy landscape! It's one of the larger plant nurseries in Singapore, with rows and rows of greenery and beautiful blooms that make for plenty of great photo ops. Psst... This is also the place to get coveted house plants, including the trendy monstera deliciosa and fiddle leaf fig tree, at wholesale prices.
Monday - Saturday, 8am - 6pm, Sunday, 9am - 1pm
How much: Entry is free!

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9 Urban Vegetable Farms in Singapore to Visit with the Kids 2021

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Looking to teach your kids where vegetables come from? There are actually a ton of urban farms in Singapore producing organic fruits, vegetables and herbs! Some even practice hydroponic farming and vertical farming, and many of them welcome visitors for tours.

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Green Up Singapore is also known as The Nature Nook, a charming garden within Gallop Kranji Farm Resort that makes for a great day trip with the kids. The garden has over 80 types of herbs, vegetables and fruit trees, and kids are even allowed to harvest some leaves and fruits to take home!

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https://thesmartlocal.com/read/urban-farms/

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TheSmartLocal - Singapore's Leading Travel and Lifestyle Portal

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8 Urban Farms In Singapore For Locally-Grown Vegetables Of High Quality

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For a nature lesson, find out more about the processes of growing our own vegetables and fruit from these urban farms all around Singapore.

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https://www.bbc.com/news/business-61919430
farms at the top deck of the carpark.

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How Singapore is turning multi-storey car parks into farms

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The densely populated South East Asian island nation imports more than 90% of the food it consumes.

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https://bestprices.sg/list-of-urban-farms-in-singapore/

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It is a common belief among many that Singapore mostly depends on imported food.

But in its stride to rise up to the occasion of self-sustainability, there are many farming facilities that are scattered all around us.

Urban farms not only are dedicated to organic or pesticide free produce but many have even opened up their doors for tours and visit. It is a great way to gain first hand exposure on how urban farming is conducted.

The 10 Urban Farms to Visit This Weekend for Locally Grown Vegetables

Image Credit: Edible Garden City

Edible Garden City - Urban Farm Singapore
Edible Garden City was created with the aim of reconnecting with nature and creating a sustainable food chain. They offer services where volunteers or urban farmers can choose to Build, Grow or Teach.

Recipient of multiple awards, this initiative deserves all the accolades it received. Here you will find innovation to design, develop and at the same time maintain a fine balance of the resources created at this place.

There are so many things to learn and appreciate.

They offer tours to public which is a learning experience for many.

They even have a residential project and the participants are all praise for the venture. In the words of PATRINA'S FRONYARD FARM

"Love the turnout of my edible garden. The plants are interesting and look great. After 1 month we started being able to harvest and use them in our cooking! Also love the passion and dedication of the team behind. Can't wait to see how it progresses."

Address: 60 Jalan Penjara, Singapore 149375 Telephone - 65 8817 4054 Website - https://www.ediblegardencity.com/

Related: Here are Singapore's Best Nature Reserves

Hydro-Urban - Urban Farm Singapore
2. Hydro-Urban

If pesticide-free produce is your top-most concern, then this is the place to check out. Pure veggies, unadulterated, without any harmful chemicals is the best for our health.

At Hydro-Urban they understand the growing need to eat healthy and thus they cater with the best quality produce. If you order one pack of Gyoza, you can even avail 20% discount.

Pesticide free veggies are possible and they are great for nutrition, with this belief, they use technology that gives you nothing but the best of produce.

At the heart of Singapore, Hydro-Urban provides you veggies which will definitely have lower carbon footprint as they won't have to travel from afar.

A buyer had noted that
Address - #03-09, 55 Ubi Ave 1, Singapore 408935 Telephone - 9228-1298 Website - https://www.hydrourban.com.sg/

"Vegetables are fresh, prompt delivery to your door step. Excellent service ! Highly recommend to purchase from Hydro Urban , especially during this period."

Citizen Farm - Urban Farm Singapore

Recommended: Couple Workshops In Singapore for Hands On Experience

This is another initiative by Edible Garden City. But it deserves its own mention due to the phenomenal involvement it has garnered.

This initiative was in response to the growing demand of learning about farming. A knowledge base is in the process of creation to help shape the future of farming.

Use of technological advancement is encouraged and taught at various levels for the benefit of not just vegetable consumers but also producers or farmers.

Citizen Farm gives an employment opportunity to people with intellectual disability as well. A participant at the open house summarized her experience
Address - 60 Jln Penjara, Singapore 149375 Telephone - (+65) 8817 4054 Website - https://www.citizenfarm.com.sg/Sky Green - Urban Farm Singapore

"It was a unique experience for me and fellow attendees during the farm's fortnightly Open House whereby guests were given the opportunity to interact with the team who was in charge of maintaining the community farm, as well as learn about hydroponics and the sustainable yet riveting way of mini-scale agricultural processes. Citizen Farm offers a brief retreat from locals' typical environment by welcoming one to embrace the simplicity and joy of contemporary cultivation; undoubtedly one of the recommended places to visit during the weekends."

Image Credit: Sky Green with Mr Jack Ng, chief executive of urban farm Sky Greens, with trays of vegetables that are grown stacked inside A-shaped frames, at the Sky Greens Farm on 25 August 2014

Sky Greens was founded in 2012 by Jack Ng.

Vertical farming has a lot of potential in Singapore because of the country's hot and humid climate.

This type of agriculture utilizes artificial lighting to grow crops indoors, which eliminates the need for pesticides, herbicides, and water waste.

Moreover, vertical farms yield higher yields compared to traditional agricultural practices that rely on land expansion that is lacking in Singapore.
A visitor couldn't help but noted that
Consequently, this is good news for consumers who are struggling to keep up with rising food prices while also conserving scarce resources.
Address: 200 Lim Chu Kang Lane 3, 718804 Phone: 6898 4858 Bollywood Veggies - Urban Farm Singapore
Sky Green use technology to the best possible way for agricultural benefits. One of their crucial contribution is managing food waste and recycling.

"Futuristic farm.High tech vege farming suitable for countries short of land space.Can harvest a crop several times compared to the traditional farm, very high in productivity.Only one such vege farm in Singapore at the moment.Hope to have more."

As a farming collective, Bollywood Veggies emphasize a lot on teaching to help sustain the process of urban farming. A visitor wonderfully sums up what you can expect from this place.

Location was serene. Never felt such as to be inside SG city life. Food was excellent and the portion was nominal for the price. Dessert suggested by in-house people was good.

The Bollywood trial gives a pleasant walk outdoors through the various plots. Give a try if you want to have a peaceful surrounding away from regular Singapore city life.
Address: 100 Neo Tiew Rd, Singapore 719026 Telephone: 6898 5001
Many people have noticed that it is a great place to begin teaching children about how to start gardening or to inspire them about farming.
Artisan Green - Urban Farm Singapore
It has a culinary school, a museum and a restaurant as well making it a great choice to learn and explore on gardening and farming benefits.

Recommended: Where to Buy Cheap Vegetables in Singapore?

At Artisan Green the belief and commitment is not only on the quality of produce but also transparency of the process, this clearly sets aside their agenda.
E-mail - hello@artisan.green
They use hydroponic technology and vertical farming principles to give you fresh produce.
Urban farm & barn - Urban Farm Singapore
Address - 16 Kallang Place #04-19/20, Singapore 339156

Learn too: Vegetable Suppliers in Singapore for Wholesale Vegetables and Fruits

If you have considered trying out on farming in the urban landscape, then Urban farm & barn is your place to consult. A beautiful secret place where the whole family can enjoy a tour as well.

They will not only help you guide and teach you along the process, you can also adopt a plot and begin your journey as an urban farmer.
Address: 201 Petir Road, Singapore 670201 Telephone: (+65) 8809 3829 Website - Comcrop - Urban Farm Singapore https://www.pocketgreens.com.sg/urban-farm-barn
In their own words a garden enthusiast can be benefitted by

"Our step garden allows you to grow a cocktail of herbs, colourful salad greens and vibrant blooms. We can customize any size to suit your space. It's so easy that you think you are working with an oversized planter on legs."

They give you an insight into the world of urban farming. You can not only have a tour but also get involved as a volunteer.

There are many restaurant owners across the island who take great pride in being associated with Comcrop and the produce they get from this farm.

Each bite of the freshly produced veggies is full of goodness and promise of health. The fresh produce from this place has a longer shelf life as well.
Address - Roof Top, 15 Woodlands Loop, Singapore 738322 Website - http://comcrop.com/Citiponics Vertical Urban farm - Urban Farm Singapore
This organization also takes responsibility by employing senior citizens and marginalized community and giving them an opportunity to earn employment.

A farming enthusiast cheerfully noted

"Urban farming in the heart of Singapore's Orchard Road area. On the first Saturday of the month, they host a free farm visit. Their farms are atop the terraces of the Scape mall, and it is intriguing to learn how it all started, their approach to sustainable farming, hydroponics and community engagement. A must visit to raise your and your family's awareness. Support them by buying their (Comcrop) products on Redmart. Super helpful team facilitating the farm tour."

Citiponics Vertical Urban farm is an urban farm that is local on a MSCP on top of heartland Angmokio.

This urban farm not only use technology such as Aqua Organic System (AOS) and they are committed to the use of minimal water and electricity as well.
Address: 700 Ang Mo Kio Ave 6, Multi-Storey Carpark, Level 6, Singapore 560700 Telephone: (+65) 9777 0520 Pacific Agro Farm - Urban Farm Singapore
It makes them a safe and sustainable produce choice that people can trust.

A garden enthusiast couldn't help but mention that it is a

"Very good place to learn about hydroponics."

It was established way back in 1977. You can take a tour around the farm for with a nominal fee. As a gardening enthusiast, you will not be disappointed by their workshops where you will get to learn a lot about gardening.

You can even directly order for the produce from their website and enjoy fresh and healthy vegetables at no extra cost. The cherry tomatoes and sweet basil are the top favorites among many buyers.

At the workshop you will learn a lot of new things for sure.
Address: 14 Bah Soon Pah Road, Singapore 769961 Telephone: 6758 1026 Website - https://pacificagrofarm.com/
A participant commented

"Great place! Tons of gorgeous plants and very helpful staff that taught me how to make roselle tea and jam."

For any gardening and farming novice the workshop is the best place to develop skills and start the process of growing produce.

Urban Farming Singapore

Urban Farming at Home Singapore
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If you are on the lookout at the supermarket, you will be sure to find veggies from these urban farms. These fresh produces are of high quality as they are mostly organic.

Buying them will let you have not just healthier food but also you will have the scope to support local businesses as well.

You may be interested:

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List of Urban Farms in Singapore 2023 to Buy Fresh Vegetables - Best Prices in Singapore

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It is a common belief among many that Singapore mostly depends on imported food. But in its stride to rise up to the occasion of self-sustainability, there are many farming facilities that are scattered all around us. Urban farms not only are dedicated to organic or pesticide free produce but many have even opened up their doors for tours and visit.

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In a city-state that imports 90% of its food, rooftop gardens are a matter of national food security.

As recently as 1970, nearly one in 10 Singaporeans was engaged in farming or fishing. Now most of the island is urbanized. The vast majority of apartment complexes in Singapore are public housing, which allows the government to designate their rooftops as agricultural spaces in the public interest. (Photo courtesy of Comcrop)

From what was once Singapore's largest prison complex - the Queenstown Remand Prison, housing about 1,000 inmates at its peak - an 8,000 square meter urban farm, Edible Garden City (EGC), now bursts with colorful vegetables and fragrant herbs. Co-founded by local resident Bjorn Low in 2012, EGC is one of Singapore's first urban farming initiatives and is located inside the former prison compound. It is one of several efforts in the city-state to strengthen the island's food security at a grassroots level. "Our goal was and is to encourage more locals to grow their own food and thus help strengthen the city's food resilience," says Sarah Rodriguez, EGC's head of marketing.

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted just how susceptible countries are to turmoil in the global food supply. This is an issue of particular concern to Singapore, which imports almost 90 percent of its food from more than 170 countries. For several years now, the city authorities have been preparing for just such a crisis. The Singapore Food Authority (SFA) launched its ambitious " 30 by 30" initiative in 2019, with the objective of producing 30 percent of Singapore's nutritional needs locally by the year 2030. Supported by a mix of government grants and incentives, 30 by 30 will test the limits of urban food production. At last count in 2019, the city had 220 farms, and was meeting 14 percent of its demand for leafy vegetables, 26 percent for eggs and 10 percent for fish.
Vertical farms feed an island
As recently as 1970, nearly one in 10 Singaporeans was engaged in farming or fishing, either directly or indirectly. Orchards and pig farms dotted the island, and many residents grew fresh vegetables and raised backyard chickens. In the '70s and '80s, however, most of these occupations disappeared from the rapidly urbanizing city-state. Competing demands for land use led to agriculture being limited to about one percent of the land. Singapore's food supply grew increasingly reliant on imports.

That began to change about a decade ago amid serious concerns about Singapore's heavy reliance on imports. In response, the government-backed efforts to shore up the nation's food security with urban farming. In 2014, the authorities announced a SG$63 million (USD$47 million) Agriculture Productivity Fund to support farms in increasing their outputs by using innovative technologies. Over 100 local farms have benefitted so far.

But with COVID-19 threatening to disrupt the city's imports, the fear that essential food items may not be available became very real. "People have started to resonate with the need for reliable access to food in their own homes and neighborhoods," says Cuifen Pui, co-founder of the Foodscape Collective, which works with local communities and natural farming practitioners to transform underutilized public spaces into biodiverse edible community gardens. "Many Singaporeans are connecting with the concept of food security at a personal level."

EGC, which has designed and built over 260 small produce farms for restaurants, hotels, schools and residences in Singapore, also experienced an increased interest in their foodscaping service. "Our foodscaping team saw a 40 percent increase in inquiries from homeowners between April and June last year," says Rodriguez.

Pre-pandemic, EGC supplied produce to about 60 restaurants in the city and shipped produce weekly to 40 local families that had signed on to their Citizen Box subscription service. When restaurants shut in April last year, EGC quickly converted its restaurant-supplying beds and systems to grow crops for Citizen Box instead. "A bed that was previously used to grow tarragon for restaurants was repurposed to grow something like kang kong (water spinach) that is more suitable for home cooking," explains Rodriguez. "We were able to supply three times more households through Citizen Box." EGC uses natural farming methods like composting for soil regeneration and the use of permaculture techniques, to ensure that the impact on the environment is minimal and the soil remains healthy and productive for future generations.

Currently, EGC also grows kale and chard using hydroponics and microgreens in soil, all of it in a climate-controlled, indoor environment. "We strongly believe that there should be a balance between agritech and natural farming," says Rodriguez. "We prefer to focus on the wide variety of veggies that grow well in our climate."

EGC's focus on natural farming is shared by the Foodscape Collective. It's co-founder Pui had the opportunity to start a community edible garden in 2013, along with her neighbors. More recently, at the invitation of the National Parks Board and The Winstedt School, the Foodscape Collective, together with the local community, is transforming land in two locations using permaculture techniques. "These gardens are multi-functional spaces - to grow edibles, to grow plants for biodiversity, to nature watch, to enhance the soil ecosystem by composting food scraps, or simply just spaces to relax in a busy city," says Pui.

But with less than one percent of Singapore's land available for agriculture, 30 by 30 is increasing demand for tech-based solutions that can produce large volumes of food in small spaces. "Technology plays a huge role in Singapore's food security," says Prof. Paul Teng, food security expert and Dean of the National Institute of Education International. Rooftop farms like Comcrop - one of the recipients of the government's SG$30 million (USD$22 million) 30X30 Express grant - and Citiponics are growing greens hydroponically on rooftops.

Since the vast majority of apartment complexes in Singapore are public housing, the government can designate their rooftops as agricultural spaces in the public interest. In 2020, the rooftops of nine multistory car parks in public housing estates were made available for farming by the government.

Other farms like Sustenir are using climate-controlled agriculture to grow their greens entirely indoors. "Singapore will always have to maximize its land and labor productivity for self-production, and this means technology," says Teng. "It doesn't make economic sense to produce food in Singapore when there is no comparative advantage, such as with rice and other large area-requiring crops."

In line with its focus on highly-productive farming, SFA plans to redevelop Lim Chu Kang - an area in the northwest of Singapore covered with traditional farms - into a high-tech agri-cluster, which would triple the output of the area. The redevelopment work is expected to begin in 2024.

Egg production and aquaculture are also being ramped up. Chew's Agriculture, a household name in Singapore for its farm-fresh eggs, received a 30X30 Express grant to build additional hen houses equipped with technologies to minimize egg breakage and maximize production.

As of 2019, Singapore had 122 sea- and land-based fish farms, with the majority of its offshore fish farms located in the Johor Strait to the north of the island. With these fish farms reaching maximum production levels, potential sites in the southern waters of Singapore are being assessed for suitability and environmental impact. Vertical aquaculture on land is also being viewed as an alternative to increase fish production. Land-based fish farm Apollo Aquaculture recently made news with its upcoming eight-story, state-of-the-art farm.

On the public-facing side, the SFA is encouraging citizens to buy locally farmed food, emphasizing its freshness and nutritive value. A new logo SG Fresh Produce was launched to make all locally grown produce easily identifiable in supermarkets.

As Singapore moves ahead with its 30 by 30 plans, it will still need to import the majority of its food. Not far from Lim Chu Kang is Sungei Kadut, one of Singapore's oldest industrial estates, which will be redeveloped in a phased manner into an agri-tech innovation hub. "The government is hoping to develop the country into a regional agrifood tech hub for innovations that can offer technology exports to the region," says Teng. "By helping other producing countries with technologies that can up their production, they will have more for Singapore to import."
This story was originally published in Reasons to Be Cheerful. It is reprinted here with permission.
Anne Pinto Rodrigues is a Netherlands-based freelance journalist, writing on a broad range of topics under social and environmental justice. Her work has been published in The Guardian, The Telegraph, CS Monitor, Yes!, Ensia, and several other international publications.

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Singapore Shows What Serious Urban Farming Looks Like

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In a city-state that imports 90% of its food, rooftop gardens are a matter of national food security. As recently as 1970, nearly one in 10 Singaporeans was engaged in farming or fishing. Now most of the island is urbanized.

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https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/urban-farming-hdb-car-park-rooftop-sites-tender-sfa-368956

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Tenderers must submit their proposals via the Government's e-procurement portal GeBiz by 4pm on Mar 23.

"Proposals will be assessed on their bid price, production output, design and site layout, as well as business/marketing plan," said SFA and HDB.

The agencies added that availing more spaces in Singapore for commercial farming, including alternative spaces like HDB multi-storey car park rooftops, is one of the strategies SFA has been undertaking to achieve Singapore's "30 by 30" target, which is to produce 30 per cent of its nutritional needs locally by 2030.

The move is also in line with HDB's Green Towns Programme to intensify greening in HDB estates, added the agencies.

Senior director of SFA's Food Supply Resilience Division Melvin Chow said: "We are heartened by the continued interest from both the local agri-food industry and the public towards urban farming in community spaces."

Mr Chow added that besides contributing to Singapore's food security, the rooftop farms help in "raising awareness and support for local produce".

"It is great to see residents in the area enjoying fresh produce straight from such farms and found conveniently at nearby supermarkets," he said.

"As we work towards our '30 by 30' goal, we hope that consumers will continue to show their appreciation for our local farms by choosing to buy local produce and encouraging those around them to do the same.

"This will help to spur our local farms to become more productive to meet the increased demand, and create an enabling environment for our local agri-food industry to thrive."

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SFA launches tender for rental of 7 sites at HDB car park rooftops for urban farming

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SINGAPORE: Another seven sites at Housing Board (HDB) multi-storey car park rooftops were launched by the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) on Tuesday (Feb 23) for rental by public tender."The sites will be used to farm vegetables and other food crops, as well as for other related purposes, such

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https://cnaluxury.channelnewsasia.com/experiences/urban-farming-singapore-177456

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Citiponics has made a name for itself building water-efficient aqua organic "growing towers" that can be used to build anything from butterhead lettuce to sweet basil. In April this year, they opened the first commercial farm on the rooftop of a multi-storey car park. The farm produces vegetables sold at the Ang Mo Kio Hub outlet of NTUC FairPrice under the brand, LeafWell.

Sky Greens is arguably the most impressive urban farming venture. It is the world's first low carbon, hydraulic driven vertical farm, and has been recognised globally for its sustainability innovation.

There are several benefits to having our farms so close to home. Through community gardens or access to commercial-scale farm produce, the public have an opportunity to understand how food is grown.

As urban farmers take great care to ensure produce is pesticide-free, while incorporating sustainable zero-waste and energy-saving practices, there is also comfort in knowing where the food comes from and its impact on the environment.

"Having food production within the city or heartland [ also] brings food closer to the consumers as it cuts transport costs and carbon emissions, and may improve environmental sustainability," said a spokesperson from the Singapore Food Agency (SFA), the new statutory board created in April this year to develop the food supply and industry.

However, there are also broader concerns of the impact of climate change and food security in Singapore. It is why much is being done by the likes of the SFA to achieve "30 by 30" - "which is to develop the capability and capacity of our agri-food industry to produce 30 per cent of Singapore's nutritional needs by 2030," said the SFA. "Local production will help mitigate our reliance on imports and serve as a buffer during supply disruptions to import sources."

Singapore still has a long way to go as the urban farming scene is still a very young one. But there are opportunities for growth given the continued development here. In the URA's latest phase of the Landscaping for Urban Spaces and High-Rises (LUSH) 3.0 scheme, "developers of commercial and hotel buildings located in high footfall areas can propose rooftop farms to meet landscape replacement requirements."

Naturally, developers are taking advantage of this. One of the newest kids on the block is the urban rooftop farm run by EGC for new Japanese restaurant, Noka by Open Farm Community at Funan. Noka is putting its money on offering Japanese cuisine that infuses local ingredients, from the butterfly blue pea to the ulam raja flower - ingredients grown and tended to by the farmers at EGC's 5,000 sq. ft. urban garden just outside Noka's windows.

" The urban farming space is still in the emerging stages of development," said Bjorn Low, co-founder of EGC. "We are literally scratching the surface of what's possible. The areas of growth are in the application of urban food production in urban design and city planning, the use of urban farms for deeper community engagement and the role urban farms plays in creating social and environmental impact in the city."

While many farmers have found ways to convert existing rooftop spaces into farms or gardens, Jonathan Choe, associate at WOHA Architects, says that one of the greatest opportunities to advance urban farming in Singapore is to build an entirely integrated system that not only incorporates growing spaces, but also how these farms can interact with the entire building infrastructure - from building cooling measures to water recycling and energy management. The firm, which has their own testbed rooftop garden, is currently working on the upcoming Punggol Digital District development.

But the greatest challenge for urban farmers is truly economies of scale. "Agriculture on its own is already a challenging industry due to industrialisation of farming and our food system," said Low. "Scale is a limiting factor in the city, and urban farming business models need to be able to adapt to both the challenges of a globalised food system and the availability of cheap food, whilst operating in areas of high cost and overheads."

It begins with cultivating an awareness of and demand for local produce amongst both consumers and businesses alike. For Cynthia Chua, co-founder of Spa Esprit Group - the people behind Noka - taking an interest in agriculture is more than necessary, as it will have long-term benefits in preparing for the future generation of Singaporeans.

Restaurants like Noka, which choose to highlight local produce are an easy way in for consumers to learn about the benefits of supporting local farming businesses. As a business owner, Chua has also noticed that "travelling chefs from different countries are gaining interest in playing with our tropical produce." In Chua's opinion, it is the "right timing" to push innovation and continue to turn this "scene" into a fully sustainable industry.

"As a city-state, the general population is disconnected from farming and the way food is being farmed," said Low. "Urban farms should become touchpoints for us to learn about sustainable agriculture techniques, and encourage consumers in Singapore to eat more responsibly, locally and ethically."

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Raising the roof: Cultivating Singapore's urban farming scene

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Citiponics has made a name for itself building water-efficient aqua organic "growing towers" that can be used to build anything from butterhead lettuce to sweet basil. In April this year, they opened the first commercial farm on the rooftop of a multi-storey car park.

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TheSmartLocal - Singapore's Leading Travel and Lifestyle Portal

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8 Urban Farms In Singapore For Locally-Grown Vegetables Of High Quality

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For a nature lesson, find out more about the processes of growing our own vegetables and fruit from these urban farms all around Singapore.

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https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/vertical-farm-receives-the-worlds-first-urban-farm-certification-for-organic-vegetables

- agriculture service that is based on urban farming, in SG they have a 9-meter tall system

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SINGAPORE - Buyers of mini-vegetables from the first vertical farm here can now be assured they were grown without the use of artificial fertilisers or pesticides.

Sky Greens, an urban farm in Lim Chu Kang, has been awarded the world's first national standard for organic vegetables grown in urban environments, developed in Singapore to address key challenges such as limited land, lack of soil and water and higher operating costs from energy consumption and manpower constraints.

Sky Greens received the Singapore Standard 632 (SS 632) for organic primary produce certification from certification body Control Union Certifications on Tuesday (June 11).

The certification was developed by the Singapore Standards Council's Food Standards Committee with the support of Singapore Manufacturing Federation-Standards Development Organisation and Enterprise Singapore.

Urban farms worldwide, including importers, exporters and retailers can apply for the SS 632 certification.

Dr Allan Lim, chairman of the Food Standards Committee, said while the certification would increase consumers' confidence in local produce, it would also give Singapore's agri-food industry a certain level of recognition.

"We aspire to be a leader in the agri-food sector, and we also want to achieve a certain level of self-sustainability. In order to achieve that and for farmers to be competitive, we need standards like this to elevate their image and also make them more competitive internationally.

"The certification may allow local urban farms to expand into markets outside of Singapore. Having a national organic certification will help local urban farms to be on equal footing with the US for instance," said Dr Lim.

Environment and Water Resources Minister Masagos Zulkifli, who witnessed the presentation of the certification, noted that the increasing demand for organic food has growth potential for local farms.

"The global organic food and beverage market is expected to grow to US$320 billion by 2025, with the fastest growth anticipated in the Asia Pacific.

"In Singapore growing consumer awareness and the wider availability of organic products have contributed to the increasing demand for organic food," he said.

Mr Masagos also announced that the Singapore Food Agency will be developing "Clean-Green Standards" for urban vegetable farms that adhere to high standards, but are not strictly organic.

"This will recognise farms that produce safe, good quality and nutritious vegetables in a clean, resource-efficient environment with no pesticide use. The standards will be developed with the industry, academics and consumers."

Sky Greens harvests 500 kg of produce such as mini cai xin, jie lan and Chinese cabbage every day that are sold at FairPrice Finest stores.

The farm grows 10 times as many vegetables as traditional farming, using up to 9m-tall tiered towers holding rows of Asian vegetables.

The rotating metal towers housed in glass buildings allow all plants to get a uniform amount of sunlight, so there is no need to use LED lights, as many urban farms do. They are rotated by a water-pulley system, using gravity from collected rainwater, and the same rainwater is used for growing the crops.

The newly certified mini-vegetables that will reach FairPrice Finest shelves from Wednesday (June 12) onwards will cost 50 to 60 per cent more. Currently, 150g of vegetables cost $2.75.

To avoid pesticides, Sky Greens started to produce mini-vegetables in 2017. Normal-sized vegetables take 40 days to mature, but the vegetables at the farm are harvested when they are smaller, at between day 21 and 24, before insects appear.

Sky Greens now grows only mini plants, which pack more nutrients than mature plants.

The crops are grown in organic compost made up of Nespresso recycled coffee grounds, chicken manure pellets from local farms and vegetable waste from Sky Greens.

Dr Ngiam Tong Tau, who headed the Organic Primary Produce Working Group, which crafted the SS 632, said it plugged a gap in organic certification for urban farms.

"Organic farming practices have increasingly been adopted worldwide in open field soil-based farms. However, there is now a rapid decline in arable farmland and more farms are being developed in urban areas," said Dr Ngiam, who is also the chairman of Sky Urban Solutions Holding, which owns Sky Greens.

A few urban farms including Panasonic's indoor vegetable farm have expressed interest in the SS 632 certification.

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Vertical farm receives the world's first urban farm certification for organic vegetables

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SINGAPORE - Buyers of mini-vegetables from the first vertical farm here can now be assured they were grown without the use of artificial fertilisers or pesticides.

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https://www.ura.gov.sg/Corporate/Get-Involved/Plan-Our-Future-SG/Innovative-Urban-Solutions/Urban-Farming

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To make Singapore a great city to live, work and play.

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It had 238 licensed farms in 2020, according to official figures. Some of the farms are already profitable, and can expand their production to increase profits, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) says

Sky Greens is aptly named, with shelves of green plants towering at over 9M tall. This high-tech farm is the world’s first low carbon, hydraulic-driven vertical farm, and has won multiple awards.The veggies are harvested and delivered daily to supermarkets for maximum freshness – you can pick them up at Fairprice Finest Stores.

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https://www.bbc.com/news/business-61919430

"And this is not a small operation - it supplies nearby retailers with up to 400kg of vegetables a day, she says."

It is extremely expensive to set up a simple multi-storey carpark urban farm like that.

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How Singapore is turning multi-storey car parks into farms

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The densely populated South East Asian island nation imports more than 90% of the food it consumes.

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https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/environment/rolex-perpetual-planet-we-the-earth-urban-farmers-bjorn-low-allan-lim-food-security
Since 2012, EGC has trained scores of urban farmers, created over 270 food gardens in a variety of underused spaces, and inspired countless others to try their hand at urban farming.

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Meet the local farmers growing vegetables in underused spaces to feed S'pore sustainably

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They plant produce on rooftops and in community gardens to boost food security and build community spirit. Read more at straitstimes.com.

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Our Tampines Hub has launched the Our Green Hut farming initiative, a vertical hydroponic farm at its Festive Drive.

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worlds tallest urban farm at the 51st floor of capitaspring building in Singapore's financial district. The 1-Arden Food Forest at CapitaSpring has over 130 varieties of crops, and it's where restaurant chefs come if they’re looking for something special for their menu.

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World’s highest rooftop urban farm – 51 floors up in Singapore | CNA Lifestyle

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urban farm at funan, they grow herbs fruits and vegetables.
https://sg.trip.com/moments/detail/singapore-53-15002889

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selinachaztel

The next time if you are at Funan Mall or near the City Hall area, do come take a look at this serect Urban Farm in the heart of the city at the rooftop of Funan mall! The faster way to get up here is by the lift lobby A and press up to level 7. Once out of the lift, you walk outside and take a turn to your right side. The area although small, was well kept and clean. Went on a bring sunny afternoon and it was nice to see all the plants growing really healthy! There are also a lot of edible plants and floeers being grow here as well. What was interesting to me is they kept fishes here and used the water the fish is in to water the plant as fishes give out a kind an ammo that is nutritional to the plant as well. What a fun factor I learned today! #mustdo #singapore

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Urban Farm at Funan | Trip.com Singapore Travelogues

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The next time if you are at Funan Mall or near the City Hall area, do come take a look at this serect Urban Farm in the heart of the city at the rooftop of Funan mall!