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Rooftop farming takes off in Singapore

The tropical fruit kedondong growing in the rooftop garden.

Urban farms spring up in space-starved city-state as part of a drive to produce more food locally and reduce a heavy reliance on imports.

By Martin Abbugao
Bangkok Post
Oct 1, 2020

Excerpt:

Authorities last year said they were aiming to source 30% of the population’s “nutritional needs” locally by 2030, and want to increase production of fish and eggs as well as vegetables.

With coronavirus increasing fears about supply-chain disruption, the government has accelerated its efforts, announcing the rooftops of nine car parks would become urban farms and releasing S$30 million (US$22 million) to boost local food production.

Edible Garden City, one of several firms operating urban farms in Singapore, runs about 80 rooftop sites.

But they have also created many food gardens in more unusual places, including a former prison, in shipping containers, and on high-rise apartment balconies.

Their farms use only natural pesticides such as neem oil to repel pests.

“What we really want to do is to spread the message of growing our own food. We want to advocate that you really do not need large parcels of land,” said Edible Garden City CEO Ang.

Read the complete article here.