Singapore , Southeast Asia 1° 21' 7.4988'' N · 103° 49' 11.4204'' E

Transforming the Agri-food Landscape
A Commitment to Sustainability

改变农业食品格局对可持续发展的承诺

Singapore has embarked on an ambitious plan, known as ’30 by 30′, to produce 30% of its nutritional needs locally by 2030. Given that just 1% of the land is set aside for farming, this goal challenges us to drastically rethink agricultural productivity and sustainability. In a multi-disciplinary consortium led by Singapore architects MKPL we have been tasked with developing a detailed masterplan for Lim Chu Kang (LCK) embodying the vision of ‘Growing more with less, sustainably.’

Our mission in Singapore is to strengthen food security by enhancing the city’s resilience through increased local food production. We aim to master plan the Lim Chu Kang (LCK) area into a high-tech agri-food zone, transforming it through strategic land use optimization and infrastructure development to support high-yield, resource-efficient farming. Additionally, we plan to establish shared facilities, like waste treatment plants and packing facilities, to create economies of scale and foster community efficiency.

90%%

of Singapore’s food comes from abroad.

FIG. 1
Total food import in Singapore

Current Status and Milestones

The master plan for Lim Chu Kang is finalized, providing the Singapore government with a strategic blueprint for a multi-farm approach. This plan not only emphasizes maximizing production yields and optimizing the use of resources and land but also includes designs for shared facilities that enable farmers to utilize communal services for packing, cold storage, and logistics. All operations are conducted under stringent biosecurity measures to ensure the highest standards of food safety.

FIG. 1
Farm types propoed for LCK. Courtesy of KuiperCompagnons

Strategies and Approaches

As the agro-food system specialists in this consortium, Greengrounds played a pivotal role in shaping the masterplan. Our expertise allowed us to propose an optimal mix of crops and farming technologies, designing a variety of high-tech farm types. The detailed figures and calculations we provided were crucial in evaluating the plan’s potential impact on Singapore’s food security goals. These contributions formed the basis for our consortium partners to develop robust infrastructure plans, ensuring the availability of essential resources like energy and water, and to devise sustainable waste and wastewater management practices. Our collaborative efforts were instrumental in crafting a comprehensive environmental impact assessment.

Additionally, Greengrounds facilitated crucial discussions and alignment between the consortium leader and senior government management, ensuring that all proposals met with approval from various governmental agencies—a vital step for the project’s final green light.

FIG. 2
the vision for Lim Chu Kang (LCK) as Singapore’s flagship agri-food production hub of  the future. Courtesy of MKPL Architects Pte Ltd

Looking Forward

This project underscores our commitment to transforming urban landscapes into sustainable food-producing ecosystems and serves as a blueprint for future global initiatives. At Greengrounds, we are dedicated to supporting, enhancing, and accelerating these transformative efforts, turning potential into tangible progress.

According to yield projections, the 30 by 30 goal will be surpassed with the development of the first hub, making 100% self-sufficiency in food production a highly attainable future objective.

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Transforming the Agri-food Landscape A Commitment to Sustainability

改变农业食品格局 对可持续发展的承诺