Should we worry about S’pore’s food supply with all that’s happening around the world?

There are times when my mind wanders, and I think of hypothetical situations that Singapore could face and what might actually happen.

With the ongoing wars, geopolitical tensions, and protectionist policies that impact global trade, such hypothetical situations could become a reality.

I decided to ask my bestie (for the fun of it) how the current global climate will affect Singapore.

In response, she shared that with Singapore’s high reliance on importing food, even if we are not affected by direct tariffs imposed by other countries, the cost could still fall on the average Singaporean.

She added that with the high cost of living, perhaps it’s time Singapore tries to be a little more self-reliant.

And my bestie had a point.

Singapore could be severely impacted, as we rely heavily on imports from other countries.

Especially when it comes to our food supply.

Over 90 per cent of Singapore’s food comes from overseas, leaving us vulnerable to external forces like disruptions in global supply chains.

What is Singapore doing for our long-term food security?

The plan

To make sure Singapore have a steady supply of food, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) has “food baskets” strategy where all our eggs (literally) are not placed in one basket.

This is done to ensure Singapore's safe food supply remains steadily available by diversifying its imports from more than 180 countries.

While importing food is one of the “food baskets” and has sustained Singapore for a long time, we cannot rely on it in its totality.

We had a taste of it recently, though on a smaller scale, when Malaysia banned its chicken exports in 2022, disrupting our supply of fresh chicken.

To alleviate such supply disruptions, Singapore must be able to diversify its import sources, buffer, and grow its own produce so there will always be food on our tables.

Not all eggs in one basket

Investing in and building upon Singapore’s local production capabilities can reduce our reliance on imported goods and mitigate the effects of overseas food supply disruptions.

As such, SFA is boosting local production by local farmers as a form of insurance.

Since 2017, SFA has launched new farmlands in Lim Chu Kang & Sungei Tengah, and will continue to avail space for farming by launching land and sea tenders progressively.

SFA will also explore the development of shared facilities to lower production costs and conserve resource use.

Giving local farms a boost

One way SFA helps farmers is through the Agri-Food Cluster Transformation (ACT) Fund.

The fund was launched in April 2021 to support the transformation of the agri-food sector into one that is highly productive, climate-resilient, and resource-efficient.

It comprises two co-funding components: capability upgrading and technology upscaling. This supports our local farms to build their capability and capacity for local production.

How can we support?

The thought of our food supply being disrupted is daunting, and having most of our food imported from other countries makes us vulnerable.

As such, what can the average Singapore consumer do to help?

Consumers can also do their part to strengthen Singapore’s food supply resilience by:

• Adapting and being flexible with your food options,
• Buy and keep a reasonable amount of non-perishable food in your pantry for  emergencies,
• Consume only what you need and choose alternatives.

Consumers can also help ensure food security by supporting our local farmers in boosting their production by buying local produce.

Continued demand for local produce can also help keep our farms commercially viable and strengthen their ability to contribute to Singapore’s food security during disruptions.

When shopping for food, consumers can visit the SG Farmer’s Markets organised by the Singapore Agro-Food Enterprises Federation (SAFEF) and supported by the SFA, or purchase local produce from the “e-SG Farmers’ Market” section on Redmart.

SFA has also partnered with supermarkets to offer and promote local produce.

Consumers can look for the red and white SG Fresh Produce logo on the produce packaging.

If you are dining out, you can always consider dining at a food business registered under the Farm-to-Table Recognition Programme. This programme recognises food businesses that procure locally farmed produce.

We saw how Covid-19 impacted Singapore’s food supply with import restrictions and how consumers reacted to the dwindling chicken supply.

So, we must work towards being more reliant on our homegrown produce and ensure that all our eggs are not in one basket.

This ad, sponsored by the Singapore Food Agency (SFA), makes the author want to pick up farming.

Top photo via Canva