Food & agriculture — Topics

3 Nov 2021

Impact to Food Prices in Next Six Months Given Supply Chain Disruption and Increase in Energy Costs

Minister Gan Kim Yong explained that food prices are influenced by imported prices, energy costs, freight, labour, and seasonal weather, and have risen due to global commodity price increases, higher energy prices, supply chain issues, and labour shortages.
He noted that food prices are expected to rise further in the coming months because of increasing energy costs, which may lead suppliers to adjust prices to cover these higher expenses.
The government will continue to support low-income households through ComCare assistance and grocery vouchers, while also diversifying import sources to maintain competitive prices and improve supply resilience.

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2 Nov 2021

Projected Increase in Water Demand and Usage to Support "30 by 30" Goal to Raise Local Food Production

The Ministry explained that under the "30 by 30" goal, the Singapore Food Agency will support the local agri-food sector through initiatives like the Lim Chu Kang Master Plan and the Agri-Food Cluster Transformation Fund to become productive and sustainable.
It highlighted that the sector will use technologies like water recirculation to be resource-efficient, noting that some indoor farms already use up to 95% less water than traditional farms, with water demand estimates reviewed regularly.
The Ministry stated that the Public Utilities Board works with agencies to ensure water infrastructure meets demand and remains affordable through energy-efficient technology and enhanced productivity.

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2 Nov 2021

Plans to Adjust Amounts of Imported Food and Support Local Producers to Meet 30% of Singapore's Nutritional Needs by 2030

Dr Shahira Abdullah inquired about SFA’s plans to adjust food import volumes to limit surplus while supporting local producers to achieve the 30% nutritional goal by 2030.
Grace Fu highlighted that Singapore imports over 90% of its food and that importers commercially balance supply with demand to minimize surplus.
The “30 by 30” goal aims to grow local agri-food capabilities to produce 30% of nutritional needs, up from less than 10% today.
Local farms are encouraged to differentiate their produce, maintain quality and competitive pricing, and SFA supports them through funds, R&D, and branding initiatives.
SFA’s approach focuses on ecosystem growth and commercial sustainability rather than direct control over import adjustments.

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5 Oct 2021

Criteria Used to Evaluate Success of Socially-conscious Enterprise Hawker Centres

Leon Perera asked the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment about the criteria for evaluating the success of Socially-conscious Enterprise Hawker Centres (SEHCs), including rental data, complaint numbers, and resolution rates from 2018 to 2020.
SEHC operators must meet monthly Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) on vibrancy, stall occupancy, footfall, and timely feedback resolution, with stall rents ranging from $1,000 to $3,693 and median monthly rents of $2,000 in 2019 and 2020, similar to comparable centres.
Between 2018 and 2020, SEHCs received an average of four feedback instances per month, mostly from patrons, with at least 90% addressed within three working days; operators also engage hawkers quarterly through feedback sessions.
The SEHC model has benefits for hawkers and patrons, including curated stalls, events to boost footfall, COVID-19 support like rental waivers, initiatives for food delivery, and high stall occupancy through incubation programmes.

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5 Oct 2021

Take-up Rates for Digitalisation, Productivity and Succession Schemes for Hawkers in Past Three Years

Leon Perera asked for three-year take-up rates of hawker digitalisation, productivity, and succession schemes broken down by ethnic and age groups, and whether the Ministry tracks digitalisation progress by ethnic and age groups.
Chua Kheng Wee Louis asked if the Ministry tracks commission costs of food delivery platforms and the number and percentage of hawkers who have taken up Food Delivery Support Packages.
Grace Fu Hai Yien reported that 39 aspiring hawkers joined the Incubation Stall Programme and nearly 400 participated in the Hawkers’ Development Programme from 2019 to 2021, with 70% below 50 years old.
Over 700 hawkers used the Hawkers’ Productivity Grant, with more than 70% above 50 years old, and as of July 2021, more than 4,000 adopted e-payment while about 1,400 applied for the Food Delivery Support Scheme, with two-thirds aged 50 and above.
The Ministry does not track participation by ethnicity, and efforts include zero-commission models and outreach by Digital Ambassadors to support hawkers in digital adoption.

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4 Oct 2021

Review of Support for Hawkers to Enable Them to be COVID-19-resilient beyond One-off Relief Packages

The government will review SafeEntry access control and reduced seating capacities at hawker centres based on the prevailing COVID-19 situation, rather than making them permanent features.
The National Environment Agency is implementing programmes such as the Hawker Centres Transformation Programme and the Hawker Centre Toilet Improvement Programme to improve ventilation, spacing, and hygiene in hawker centres.
An Alliance for Action has been formed to help hawkers increase their online presence and pilot initiatives like Digital Support for Hawkers groups and a 'Common Acquirer' model for food delivery.
These measures aim to make hawker centres more resilient to public health risks and support hawkers in adapting to a post-pandemic landscape, reducing the need for continual one-off relief packages.

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4 Oct 2021

Food Poisoning Involving Home-based Businesses and Measures to Support and License Them

Ms Foo Mee Har asked for statistics on the number of home-based food businesses, their growth trend, and proposed tailored licensing to support their sustainable growth.
Mr Melvin Yong Yik Chye inquired about the annual number of food poisoning cases linked to these businesses over the past five years and the hygiene standards imposed on them.
Minister Grace Fu explained that home-based food businesses operate under HDB/URA schemes with scale limitations, are not required to be licensed due to low risk, but must comply with food safety laws, with average cases under five per year.
The Singapore Food Agency is considering making it mandatory for home-based food business owners to complete food safety training and certification to improve standards.
Businesses wishing to expand beyond home operations are advised to set up licensed food premises outside their homes.

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13 Sep 2021

Number of KTVs Pivoted to Food and Beverage and Given Licences to Operate Commercial Kitchens

Dr Tan Yia Swam asked how many of the 400 KTVs that pivoted to food and beverage have commercial kitchens.
11 of these establishments operate with a Food Shop (Restaurant) licence that requires a commercial kitchen, while the rest use a Food Shop (Snack Counter) licence with more basic food preparation equipment.
Enhanced Safe Management Measures have been imposed, including CCTV installation, removal of public entertainment equipment, and compliance with SFA licensing conditions, and operations can only resume after passing inspections and receiving a conditional permit.

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13 Sep 2021

Fines Issued to Persons at Hawker Centres and to Patrons of Zi Char and Steamboat Stalls for Not Returning Food Trays

Ms Yeo Wan Ling asked for the number of fines issued for not returning trays in hawker centres since September 2021, how many were for zi char and steamboat patrons, and examples of pragmatic approaches for stalls with dedicated service staff.
Grace Fu Hai Yien explained that enforcement began after a three-month advisory period, with officers advising diners first; only second-time and subsequent offenders face fines, and no fines have been issued yet as of early September.
The minister noted that for zi char stalls with bulky crockery, stall assistants or cleaners help collect items, while diners clear the rest, and most diners comply.
NEA is enhancing convenience by installing 150 new tray return racks and introducing 300 return trolleys at hawker centres.

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3 Aug 2021

Nurturing a Thriving, Innovative and Sustainable Hawker Industry as a Cornerstone of Singaporean Culture

Leon Perera proposed three key strategies to enhance Singapore's hawker industry, focusing on protecting hawkers through affordable rents, professionalizing the trade with permanent ambassadors and a national academy, and promoting hawkers globally with support for overseas expansion and documenting traditional recipes.
Dr Amy Khor acknowledged the challenges faced by hawkers, especially during COVID-19, and outlined government measures such as rental waivers, financial grants, and support programs like the Hawkers’ Development Programme and Hawker Centres Transformation Programme to sustain the industry.
Both speakers emphasized the importance of keeping hawker culture vibrant and affordable, with Perera suggesting innovative allocation methods like tasting committees and discount cards for low-income Singaporeans, while Khor highlighted the success of existing initiatives and the need for continued stakeholder collaboration.

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2 Aug 2021

Coordinated Purchasing and Distribution of Food Supplies to Prevent Mass Wastage from Required Closing of Certain Markets and Hawker Centres to Contain Spread of COVID-19

Ms Nadia Ahmad Samdin asked the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment to consider a coordinated purchasing and distribution of food supplies to prevent wastage from the closure of markets and hawker centres due to COVID-19.
Grace Fu Hai Yien explained that many market stallholders receive daily supplies and that agencies quickly worked with distributors and supermarkets to divert supplies to alternative outlets after closures.
The government is reviewing long-term plans for the fresh produce sector, including studies on enhancements to wholesale markets and wet markets, incorporating lessons from the episode.

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2 Aug 2021

Working with Hawker and F&B Associations to Establish Centralised Hawker Food Platform and Help for Less Technologically-inclined

The Government is working with hawker and F&B associations through the Alliance for Action (AfA) to support hawkers, including the less technologically inclined, by raising awareness of online platforms and lowering adoption costs.
The AfA complements existing schemes like NEA’s Food Delivery Support Scheme and IMDA’s Hawkers Go Digital programme, with Digital Ambassadors assisting hawkers in digitalisation.
The Alliance aims to enhance ease of adoption and consumer demand for hawker online services, with recommendations expected in the last quarter of 2021.
No one-size-fits-all solution is proposed, as the approach is tailored to diverse hawker profiles and needs.
Community initiatives and government programmes are integrated to provide comprehensive support for hawkers’ digital transition.

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26 Jul 2021

Proposal for Measures to Reduce Consumption of Animal Protein in Singapore

Mr Don Wee asked about government targets and measures to reduce animal protein consumption due to environmental impacts.
Minister Grace Fu stated the government has no plans to introduce measures to nudge citizens toward lower meat and dairy intake, citing dietary choice as personal.
She encouraged reducing food waste and avoiding disposable cutlery to help the environment, and highlighted efforts by the Singapore Food Agency to support sustainable local farming.

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26 Jul 2021

Measures to Encourage Singaporeans to Patronise Hawkers and Creation of Platforms to Support Hawkers in Need

Christopher de Souza asked how to continue encouraging Singaporeans to patronise hawkers amid the pandemic and competition from food delivery apps, and whether more platforms can be created to support hawkers in need, especially among young people.
Grace Fu highlighted government support including rental waivers and subsidies for cleaning services, as well as efforts to maintain hygiene standards in hawker centres through increased cleaning and safe management measures by patrons.
NEA has formed an Alliance for Action with stakeholders like IMDA and delivery companies to help hawkers adopt food delivery services and boost their online presence through both digital and offline initiatives.

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26 Jul 2021

Rising Prices of Vegetables and Fresh Produce Imported from Malaysia

Minister Gan Kim Yong noted that while the CPI for leafy and fruit vegetables saw a minimal increase of under 1% in June 2021, likely due to Malaysia's Enhanced Movement Control Orders and seasonal weather affecting supply, Singapore has been diversifying import sources to stabilize prices.
The government provides support through ComCare assistance from Social Service Offices for low-income households to cover daily living expenses including food.
Additional one-off measures, such as the Budget 2020 Grocery Vouchers Scheme, have been introduced to help families manage household costs during economic uncertainty.

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6 Jul 2021

Annual Number of Cooked Food Stalls and Annual Numbers of Newly Registered Hawker Stalls and Stall Closures at Social Enterprise Hawker Centres from 2016 to 2020

From 2016 to 2020, the annual number of cooked food stalls at Social Enterprise Hawker Centres grew from 110 to 274 as four more centres became operational by 2018.
On average, Social Enterprise Hawker Centres saw 20 tenancy terminations and 59 new stall entries per year, while non-Social Enterprise centres had 301 terminations and 315 new entries annually.
Occupancy rates for hawker stalls remained high above 90% at both Social Enterprise and non-Social Enterprise centres from 2016 to 2020.
In the first six months of 2021, the monthly turnover of stalls in hawker centres was lower compared to previous years.
The data covers the period up to 2020, with preliminary observations for early 2021 indicating reduced stall turnover.

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6 Jul 2021

Breakdown of Local Production Targets and Progress to-Date Towards the "30 by 30" Food Production Target

Leon Perera sought a breakdown of Singapore's "30 by 30" local food production targets for vegetables, eggs, fish, and other foods like goat and shrimp, along with progress updates.
Grace Fu explained that the "30 by 30" goal aims to meet 30% of nutritional needs locally by 2030, starting from less than 10%, and prioritizes hen shell eggs, food fish, and leafy vegetables due to their shelf life and scalability.
She noted that specific targets for each food item are not fixed yet as the agri-tech industry is nascent, but support is available for other foods contributing to food security, with ongoing development of production plans.

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6 Jul 2021

Amount and Management Process for Waste Produced by Fish Farms

The waste generated by fish farms includes organic matter like fish faeces, dead fish, and unconsumed feed, but specific data on amounts is unavailable because farm waste is collected with general refuse.
Sea-based farms are required to bag and transport waste to land-based collection points, with enforcement and reminders to prevent illegal dumping, and the single Southern Waters farm has a commercial waste disposal arrangement.
While most farms do not segregate waste for circular use, there are ongoing efforts to upcycle waste into fertilizers or animal feed, with plans to promote sustainable practices as part of the "30 by 30" food security goal.

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6 Jul 2021

Proposal for Longer Leases for Livestock Farms beyond Current 20-year Lease

Leon Perera questioned the rationale behind the 20-year lease for livestock farms and proposed longer leases, while also asking why the Agri-Food Cluster Transformation Fund provides higher co-funding for leafy vegetables, food fish, and hen eggs compared to other food types.
Grace Fu Hai Yien explained that the 20-year lease balances productive land use, lease premiums, and farmer certainty, and will be reviewed as technologies evolve.
She noted that higher funding for leafy vegetables, food fish, and eggs is due to their commercial sustainability, innovation potential, and contribution to food security.
For other food types, funding levels have been increased compared to previous schemes, even if they are less commonly consumed.

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6 Jul 2021

Incentives for Consumers Returning Food Trays at Hawker Centres, Coffee Shops and Food Courts

Gan Thiam Poh asked if the Ministry will provide incentives for consumers returning trays to help reduce cleaning costs and consider using recyclable trays or paper table cloths for hygienic food waste disposal.
Grace Fu Hai Yien stated that tray return rules remain to maintain public hygiene, noting that cleaning costs are not reduced as cleaners are still needed for sorting and sanitizing, with increased demands due to COVID-19.
The Ministry is installing more tray return stations and engaging cleaning companies to improve workflows, emphasizing that reusable trays are preferred over single-use materials for environmental sustainability.
Diners are required to return trays and dispose of litter, with cleaners sanitizing tables afterward, and washbasins are available for handwashing.

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