Food & agriculture

• Ms. Hazel Poa questioned the impact of rising interest rates and operating costs on Singapore's high-tech farming sector.
• She also asked whether traditional open farm-style agriculture could receive similar support to meet the 30% local food production goal by 2030.
• Minister Grace Fu deferred the response to the next parliamentary sitting for a holistic reply.
• The official report on the "30 By 30" food production goal was referenced for further details.

• The debate focused on whether delays and failures in high-tech farms jeopardize the "30 by 30" goal of producing 30% of Singapore's nutritional needs locally by 2030.
• Questions were raised about the realism of the 2030 target and whether the Lim Chu Kang Masterplan implementation should be delayed.
• Concerns were also expressed about the need to revise the local farming sector strategy and assist businesses with high costs like land leasing and energy.
• The Minister indicated that a comprehensive reply would be provided in the next parliamentary sitting on 7 August 2024, addressing both the impact on the "30 by 30" goal and government support measures.

• The Good Samaritan Food Donation Bill aims to reduce Singapore's annual 750,000 tonnes of food waste and address food insecurity by waiving civil and criminal liability for donors who meet specific safety and hygiene conditions, encouraging more businesses and individuals to donate excess edible food without fear of legal repercussions.
• Supporters across parties, including the Workers' Party and Progress Singapore Party, endorse the Bill as a practical step to promote sustainability and compassion, with suggestions for additional measures such as tax incentives, clearer labelling, and logistical support to further boost participation and ensure safe handling of donated food.
• During the debate, concerns were raised about potential risks, including food allergies, religious dietary requirements, and the need for compliance with food safety standards, with the Minister clarifying that the Bill's context of voluntary food donation differs from earlier discussions on emergency assistance Good Samaritan laws, where no similar liability concerns were observed.

• Ms Hany Soh questioned whether the "30 by 30" goal is on track following recent farm closures.
• She also asked for the total grant funding disbursed for the "30 by 30" initiative.
• Minister Grace Fu directed her to previous parliamentary replies from 2 July 2024 for answers.

• Mr. Chua Kheng Wee Louis queried the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment on the number of applicants who have enrolled, completed training, completed apprenticeship, started business operations, and remained in operation under the Hawkers' Development Programme.
• The programme, launched in 2020 by the National Environment Agency, combines training, apprenticeship, and mentorship for aspiring hawkers.
• As of 30 April 2024, 566 aspiring hawkers enrolled and completed classroom training, with 120 completing their apprenticeship.
• Out of the 29 who started business operations in hawker centres, 16 remain in operation.

• The Ministry highlighted that raw materials and manpower are the main cost drivers for hawker food, accounting for 56% and 20% of operating costs respectively in 2022.
• The National Environment Agency (NEA) supports hawker affordability by moderating rents, disallowing subletting, and considering total costs in tender awards for Socially-Conscious Enterprise Hawker Centres.
• NEA provides productivity grants and programmes to help hawkers improve efficiency, while some centres offer bulk purchasing to moderate ingredient costs.

• Gan Kim Yong explained that hawker food price increases in 2022 and 2023 were driven by higher import costs due to global supply disruptions, and that inflation has since moderated to 3.7% in May 2024, broadly in line with overall CPI.
• The government introduced support measures including an enhanced Assurance Package with CDC Vouchers, a Cost-of-Living Special Payment, and initiatives like the BudgetMealGoWhere website and Price Kaki app to help consumers access affordable food.
• The Committee Against Profiteering has investigated and resolved 16 cases of alleged GST misrepresentation by food outlets since 2022, with no such feedback received since March 2024.

• The Singapore Food Agency conducts due diligence on farms and companies before awarding grants by assessing financial statements, track records, project merits, and alignment with food security goals, with funds released in tranches tied to performance indicators and progress reports.
• Measures to ensure effective use of grant funds include requiring recipients to meet key performance indicators on production and efficiency, submitting half-yearly progress reports, and disbursing funds through reimbursement only after milestones are achieved.
• The "30 by 30" goal remains achievable as the total number of farms has stayed stable at about 250 since 2019, with increased support for land access, energy efficiency, and demand aggregation, though the business environment has become more challenging.

• MP Louis Ng introduced a Bill to protect food donors from liability if recipients suffer death or injury from consuming donated food, provided safety and hygiene conditions are met, aiming to reduce food waste and support food-insecure communities.
• The Bill follows four years of work by a multi-stakeholder committee involving businesses, NGOs, and MPs, which conducted extensive public consultations to define covered food, donors, and safety standards.
• The debate highlighted that over 700,000 tonnes of food are wasted annually in Singapore, while some residents struggle with food insecurity, underscoring the need for such legislation.
• The motion for leave to introduce the Bill was passed unanimously, and the Bill was read for the first time, with its second reading scheduled for the next sitting.

Chua Kheng Wee Louis asked about the progress of the Hawkers Succession Scheme (HSS) regarding the onboarding of veteran hawkers and the status of their successors. Grace Fu Hai Yien reported that since the HSS launched on January 1, 2022, seven veteran hawkers have enrolled, with two having successfully transferred their stalls and one in process. Two more hawkers have been matched with successors, with one successor having completed their apprenticeship and the other awaiting a culinary skills test. The National Environment Agency aims to learn from these transfers and continue engaging participants in the scheme.

Jamus Lim asked about the proportion of stalls in NEA-operated hawker centres leased to food and beverage chains versus independent operators. Grace Fu reported that NEA manages 119 hawker centres with over 14,000 stalls, of which about 5% in Socially-conscious Enterprise Hawker Centres are run by SEHC operators. NEA employs a Price-Quality model for tender evaluations, focusing on factors like cost to stallholders and food variety, but does not currently consider the number of residents living within two kilometres in their assessment.

Poh Li San raised concerns about the impact of VertiVegies' withdrawal on Singapore's 30-by-30 food security goals and inquired about measures to boost local vegetable production, which currently accounts for 4% of food consumption. Cheryl Chan asked whether the government would support local agricultural firms in acquiring necessary intellectual property and provide assistance for scaling up operations. Dr. Koh Poh Koon highlighted ongoing efforts to develop the agri-food ecosystem, including the Agri-food Cluster Transformation Fund, which has committed significant resources to boost production capabilities. He emphasized the need for collaboration between larger farms and community farms, noting that larger farms are better suited to meet the demands of retailers for consistent quality and quantity. The Ministry is open to different models and partnerships to help local farms scale effectively and enhance their market reach.

• Joan Pereira queried how the Ministry ensures the safety of seafood products brought by travellers for personal consumption.
• Grace Fu explained that the Singapore Food Agency does not regulate such products for personal use and emphasised joint responsibility in food safety.
• Travellers are advised to exercise caution, avoid perishable items to minimise bacterial risks, and refer to SFA’s website for permitted limits and food safety tips.

• Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment for the current average, 25th and 75th percentile rents at NEA-managed and socially-conscious enterprise hawker centres.
• As of 31 March 2024, monthly stall rental percentiles at socially-conscious enterprise hawker centres were $1,500 (25th), $1,700 (50th) and $1,950 (75th).
• At NEA-managed hawker centres, non-subsidised stall monthly rental percentiles were $1,350 (25th), $1,600 (50th) and $1,800 (75th).
• Socially-conscious enterprise hawker centres generally have larger stall sizes and better amenities compared to NEA-managed centres.
• The data reflects differences in rental levels and stall conditions across the two types of hawker centre operators.

• The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) is implementing a phased Visitor Management System (VMS) at Pasir Panjang Wholesale Centre to enhance security and facilitate contact tracing, with registration valid for a year and minimal on-site processing time.
• SFA is engaging stakeholders and using pre-registration online to ease congestion, with plans to roll out vehicle access similarly by allowing drivers to tap their ID at the gantry without disembarking.
• The government will monitor traffic and review the system based on feedback, considering suggestions like QR codes but emphasizing that existing ID-based methods are already efficient.

• Louis Ng asked the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment for an update on measures the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) is studying to address microplastics in food and whether SFA has plans to implement measures or a threshold level for action.
• Grace Fu responded that the World Health Organisation and Food and Agriculture Organisation indicated in 2022 that there is insufficient data to fully understand the impact of microplastics on human health.
• SFA collected data from 2022 to 2023 on microplastics in drinking water and food products, and the levels found were not a cause for concern and aligned with findings from other countries like the US, Germany, and the UK.
• SFA will continue to monitor microplastics levels and international scientific developments on the topic.

• Singapore is enhancing coastal protection based on the latest climate projections, with site-specific studies and upcoming legislation to safeguard coastlines and support plans like the Lim Chu Kang Master Plan.
• The “30 by 30” vision to produce 30% of Singapore’s nutritional needs locally by 2030 faces challenges, but the government is providing funding, promoting shared facilities, and boosting demand for local produce through industry partnerships.
• To improve public hygiene, a multi-pronged approach includes stricter enforcement, new public toilet taskforces, and community campaigns, while encouraging civic responsibility to maintain a clean environment.

• Shawn Huang asked for an update on seafood availability and whether declining global catch rates affect food security, as well as new initiatives to support aquaculture development in Singapore.
• Grace Fu stated that Singapore imports seafood from about 90 countries, and diversified import sources help maintain seafood availability, with the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) working to open new sources and widen product ranges.
• Recent initiatives to support local aquaculture include the launch of the Aquatic Animal Health Service in August 2023 to help farms strengthen biosecurity, and the Aquapolis Agreement signed in November 2023 among SFA, NUS, and Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory to boost R&D collaboration in aquaculture.

• Ms See Jinli Jean questioned the measures by the Singapore Food Agency to ensure food safety from local retailers, supermarkets, e-commerce sellers, and delivery platforms amid extreme weather and prolonged delivery times.
• Minister Grace Fu highlighted that food businesses and delivery operators must comply with the Sale of Food Act and Environmental Public Health Act to transport food safely.
• The government encourages the adoption of Singapore Standard SS 672:2021 guidelines to maintain correct food temperatures during delivery.
• Consumers are advised to check and store delivered food under proper conditions upon receipt.

• Minister Grace Fu reported that 50 food businesses have joined the Farm-to-Table Recognition Programme (FTTRP) since its launch in March 2023, with the programme open to coffee shops and hawker centres.
• The government uses Government procurement weighted criteria to support FTTRP, giving recognised caterers additional points for securing contracts, while the Singapore Food Agency also helps farms adopt technologies.
• The Ministry supports industry initiatives to aggregate supply and demand for local produce, aiming to build farm capabilities and offer quality products at competitive prices, though affordability measures for businesses and consumers are not explicitly detailed.