20-11-2023 (SINGAPORE) In a pioneering move to bolster local urban farming initiatives and contribute to Singapore’s ambitious “30 by 30” food goal, the city-state has launched its inaugural urban fish farm housed within a container. The initiative aims to produce 30% of the country’s food needs domestically by 2030.
Situated in Tampines Street 11, adjacent to the Tampines Round Market and Food Centre, this container fish farm is a testament to Singapore’s commitment to sustainable and local food production. Residents can anticipate relishing the popular jade perch, a prized fish delicacy, once the first harvest is completed within the next four to six months.
Within the confines of the shipping container, strategically placed near Tampines Town Council, tanks house jade perch that will reach market readiness when they attain a weight of about 500g to 600g.
The Tampines Round Market and Food Centre Merchants’ Association, in collaboration with local fishmongers, will oversee the sale of the jade perch, with prices potentially fetching up to $38 per kilogram. As part of this community project, the fish will be sold to fishmongers at cost price.
Speaking at the launch, Minister for Social and Family Development and Second Minister for Health Masagos Zulkifli, the anchor minister for Tampines GRC, expressed the strong support from both residents and businesses for the container fish farm project. Numerous applications have been received from the public offering assistance for the initiative.
The launch event was officiated by Mr. Masagos Zulkifli, along with three other Tampines GRC MPs – Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment Koh Poh Koon, Mayor of North East District Desmond Choo, and Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Sustainability and the Environment Baey Yam Keng.
Highlighting Tampines’ active role in supporting local farm projects, Mr. Masagos mentioned identifying underutilized spaces for testing and implementing climate-resilient and resource-efficient urban farming methods. Previous successful partnerships include a tilapia fish farm in Tampines Park and a rooftop vegetable farm at a multi-storey car park.
Aqualita Ecotechnology, an aquaculture company, and Tampines Town Council, the two partners behind the container fish farm, aim to assess consumers’ interest in fish cultivated in this innovative system. Aqualita, a spin-off company from Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, engineered the containerized fish farm system using components and technologies owned by TLL.
The project also seeks to enhance understanding of the health and nutritional needs of jade perch. Aqualita’s director of technology, Goh Chin Heng, highlighted plans to develop feed that accelerates jade perch growth from six months to five months or even one month.
Apart from jade perch, five other fish species – barramundi, red snapper, hybrid grouper, tilapia, and murray cod – are shortlisted for farming in this recirculating aquaculture system. The containerized farm, occupying an area roughly the size of a bedroom in an HDB flat, is 25% more productive than traditional farming methods.
Beyond its efficiency in fish production, the containerized farm is poised to offer additional community benefits, including job creation and space for educational activities. Aqualita and Tampines Town Council are exploring collaborations with schools for educational initiatives and working with the People’s Association to donate fish bento sets regularly to welfare organizations in the area.
