Towards a Food Sovereignty Strategy

Towards a Food Sovereignty Strategy in Singapore
WAIKEEN NG, National University of Singapore, Singapore
Synopsis
Given its size and dense urban environment, it is not realistic economically or spatially to
meet Singapore’s entire food needs through in-country cultivation. A more pragmatic and
viable solution would be to build flexibility and adaptability in the planning and development
strategies so that land and space can be quickly deployed for food production when the need
arises.
1. The Impending Food Crisis
The global population is expected to grow from the current seven billion to over nine billion
by the mid-century. In addition, the global population is also expected become increasingly
urbanised. At the same time, farming and fishing yields are declining through increased
demand, reduced amounts of arable land, unsustainable agricultural and fishing practices,
not to mention the impact of climate change.
The recent International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) studies on the impact of
climate change on monsoons cycles suggest that South Asia will experience large
agricultural declines. Breakthroughs in food production – another “green revolution” – are
urgently required, as will be urban agriculture, which will be increasingly important to
supplement traditional, rural agriculture.