Food Security in Singapore: Looking Towards the Future

Food is fundamental for human security. Singapore’s food security has two “faces”; one confident face in which it is considered the most food secure country in Asia because it has the economic capacity to purchase food; another is a worried face because it is a vulnerable country importing 90 percent of its food needs.  A recent UN report has affirmed the 50 percent increase in global food demand by 2050, and the need to invest at least US$ 265 billion per year to generate new knowledge and technologies.  The competition to buy food in the global marketplace has also been predicted to get more severe from big deficit food-producing countries like China.  Singapore can contribute towards its own food security by value-adding to its strengths.  As a policy, encouraging contract farming in food surplus countries offers opportunity to secure assured supplies. Investing in “disruptive technologies” to grow food in Singapore’s urban space is another high potential opportunity.  Singapore should also leverage on its financial and technological prowess to promote two new investment areas in its neighbours – “agtech” and “fintech”.  Ultimately, Singapore’s food security will depend on regional and global food security, both enabled by investments in good science and sound policies.