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Straits Times
a day ago
- Business
- Straits Times
First gen farmers: Why they choose to grow a career in farming
First gen farmers: Why they choose to grow a career in farming Mr Leonard Teo developed a love for greens as a boy, but often found locally bought vegetables harsh on his palate. 'They had a bitter taste, and my mother ended up buying expensive organic vegetables for me,' said the owner of Straits Agriculture, a five-year-old aeroponics and hydroponics farm in Jurong that produces xiao bai cai, nai bai, curly kale and mizuna, among others. Mr Teo also grows rosemary at his farm. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI 'I thought, why not try to grow fresh and sweet-tasting vegetables so that I can eat them and Singaporeans can also purchase them at an affordable price?' The Nanyang Technological University graduate's dream took off in 2020, when he rented a 35 sq m plot of land for about $20,000 in Henderson to start his venture . After stabilising his operations, he later invested in a rooftop farm in Jurong that cost him $250,000 to set up in January 2022 . While the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) does not track the number of first-time farmers in the country, Mr Teo, 25, is one of the three young farmers who ventured into the agricultural sector during Covid-19. Mr Teo , who entered university the same year, struggled to balance school and work. Mr Teo takes home a mid three-digit salary each month from running the farm. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI 'There was no juggling. I woke up at 8am, went to class till 6pm and headed to my farm to work till about 3am. It was either do or die,' said Mr Teo, who graduated in 2025 with a degree in aerospace engineering. Mr Teo's mother, Ms Eileen Tan , who helps deliver the vegetables to his customers, said she feels bad that he has to work so hard, but is glad that this venture has built his character. 'I'm pretty proud of what he has accomplished so far,' she said. A desire to contribute Two other first-time farmers also ventured into the trade after witnessing the impact of Covid-19 on food security in Singapore, which imports more than 90 per cent of its food. While the country's key strategy is to diversify its sources, then Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing said in a written parliamentary reply in April 2020 that the pandemic had 'severely diminished global production capacities and disrupted global supply chains' . This prompted Mr John Ong, founder of Spore Gardens , a farm that produces mushrooms in a 130 sq m office space in Whampoa , to make the switch from aerospace engineering to farming. Mr Ong grows a variety of mushrooms in his farm, including the Lion's Mane, Royal Trumpet, Golden Oak Shitake, Sakura Pink Oyster, Golden Yellow Oyster and Yanagi Matsutake. ST PHOTO: TARYN NG 'Many people were panic buying during the pandemic, and while doing my own shopping, I noticed that there was a shortage of fresh produce at the supermarkets, and later realised that Singapore may have a supply chain issue in this area,' he said. After some research, the 40-year-old , who described himself as an 'accidental' farmer, opted to focus on producing mushrooms, which he felt was overlooked. He started to grow Lion's Mane mushrooms at home before investing $100,000 to kick-start the business officially. Five years on, the father of two young children, aged three and six , said he was grateful that his wife, a dermatologist , supported him making the switch then. Mr Ong , who grows six or seven types of mushrooms at his farm, supplies about 1,000kg of mushrooms to restaurants and caterers each month . He is in the midst of moving to a new 380 sq m farm in Changi , which is about three times larger than his original space. The entrepreneur, who now runs the farm with his partner, Mr Fred Soh, said sales have been doing well and the company broke even early in 2025. Mr John Ong met his business partner, Mr Fred Soh, about eight months after he founded Spore Gardens. ST PHOTO: TARYN NG Another farmer whose business appears to have taken off is M r Webster Tham, 34, from Tomato Town, a business that grows tomatoes, kale and basil. Mr Tham , who runs the farms with two other partners , said the trio started by managing a 75 sq m plot. This has grown to a 6,000 sq m plot in the last five years . Their produce can be found in 70 FairPrice outlets, where they are priced between $4 and $4.50 per packet . One of Mr Tham's farms is located at a rooftop carpark in Jurong West. The Straits Times A spokesperson for FairPrice said it has observed a significant increase in demand for Tomato Town's products across its stores over the last six months, compared with the same period in 2024. Mr Tham hopes his experience can encourage young people not to shy away from the industry. 'Farming is still hard work, but technology is there to reduce some of the laborious tasks traditional farmers have to take on. We hope young people give it a chance,' he said. Fresh perspectives Despite the efforts of new entrants, local production remains at less than 10 per cent of the country's total food consumption. While these farms remain small in scale, their true contribution lies in the innovations they bring to the agri-food sector, said research scientist Teo Shaun Hao . 'By developing and testing new farming methods, technologies, and crop varieties suited for urban environments, they help push the boundaries of what is possible in land-scarce Singapore,' said Mr Teo, who works at the Agriculture Research and Innovation Centre at Republic Polytechnic . Young farmers' savviness in leveraging social media platforms also helps them to connect directly with consumers, allowing them to build trust and promote their products more effectively, he added. However, Professor Veera Sekaran from the National University of Singapore's Department of Biological Sciences remained cautious about the value of those skills. 'No amount of social media is going to help the farmers if they do not understand the industry and the reality of the business of growing crops and bringing them to the marketplace to make profits,' said the director of Regenerative Agritech Centre . Challenges remain Since 2019, Singapore has aspired to produce 30 per cent of its nutritional needs locally by 2030, but it was revealed in Parliament in March that the target is being reviewed. In 2024, 3 per cent of vegetables consumed were grown locally, down from 3.2 per cent in 2023, according to the Singapore Food Statistics report. In the same year, there were 153 farms on land – most of which grew vegetables – down from 156 the year before. In an interview with The Straits Times in May, SFA chief executive Damian Chan said the drop in local production of vegetables is due to factors like higher operating costs, especially energy costs, a weaker investment climate in high-tech farming and farms facing challenges in securing sales. He added that local produce typically costs more than imported ones, and shoppers tend to opt for more affordable leafy greens and fish, affecting demand. Besides the challenges highlighted by SFA, the farmers hope the authorities can also look into reducing the administrative barriers that impede others' entry into the industry. Mr Teo from Straits Agriculture proposed a one-stop service portal to be set up for farmers to submit their applications for various licences, a sentiment echoed by Mr Ong. 'This will allow us to focus on the operations of the farm,' he said. While SFA did not say if it is considering setting up a one-stop service portal, it has put in place other measures, includein g customising solutions via its Technical Advisory Programme and developing industry guides to help farmers understand how to set up land-based and sea-based farms. Farmers can also tap the GoBusiness portal to apply for grants and additional licences to sell or process their produce, such as by turning them into salads or fish fillets, added SFA. What keeps them going Despite the challenges, the farmers said they are buoyed by the support they receive from their families and customers. 'When chefs tell me that the items we provide are some of the best mushrooms they've used, that really puts a smile on my face,' said Mr Ong. Sakura Pink Oyster mushrooms, which have a subtly woody taste with a hint of seafood and a peppery finish, are one type of mushrooms Mr Ong supplies to restaurants. ST PHOTO: TARYN NG Mr Teo, who is funded by a European investor and earns a mid four-figure sum for the farm each month, shared similar views. One of his long-time customers, who has been buying his vegetables since her family discovered his farm in 2022, even sent her teenage daughter to his farm to experience what it is like to run a farm, a gesture that he appreciated. For Mr Tham, it was his father Ray Tham's gesture of love that kept him thriving. Mr Tham's father, Mr Ray Tham, helps his son maintain his farms. ST PHOTO: GIN TAY 'He touched me by deciding to take up a diploma in agriculture at RP to help me out at the farm,' he said. The older Mr Tham, who initially doubted his son's venture, later decided to support him by assisting with maintenance work at the farms. An engineer by training, the 67-year-old manager of the farms is happy to see his son's business take off. 'It is not very successful yet, but I'm proud to see some success,' he said. Next steps Having solved his initial hurdles, Mr Tham hopes to increase his production by maximising the growth of his plants. 'We're looking into ways to develop a suitable temperature that will 'trick' our plants into thinking that they are in a cooler climate in order to boost growth,' he said, adding that his farms currently produce 3 tonnes of leafy greens monthly. Mr Tham grows kale, basil and tomatoes at his farms. The Straits Times Similarly, Mr Ong looks to expand the variety of mushrooms in his new farm and eventually supply them to wet markets and supermarkets. Mr Ong (left) and Ms Audrey Chong, head of marketing of Spore Gardens, travel to different farmers' markets around Singapore to sell their produce. ST PHOTO: TARYN NG For Mr Teo, he is considering moving his farm out of Singapore to places that are more cost- and infrastructure-friendly to continue with his business once his lease is up in 2028. 'But before that, I hope to be able to work with the authorities to reduce the amount of admin work that our farmers need to do and focus on increasing our yield to be effective in contributing to our country's food security situation.' Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
The Star
2 days ago
- Health
- The Star
Thailand steps up monitoring at Cambodian border amid rise in bird flu cases
Thailand's health authorities have increased monitoring at the Cambodian border. -- ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI BANGKOK (The Nation Thailand/ANN): Thailand's health authorities have increased monitoring at the Cambodian border following the confirmation of a seventh human case of H5N1 avian influenza in Cambodia in 2025. Thailand's Ministry of Public Health's Permanent Secretary, Dr Opas Karnkawinpong, confirmed that while the country has not reported any human H5N1 cases in nearly 20 years, surveillance remains ongoing, especially given recent cases in neighbouring countries. Cambodian health officials recently reported their seventh H5N1 bird flu human infection in 2025. The patient is a 41-year-old woman who experienced fever, cough, and difficulty breathing after exposure to poultry that had died of illness near her home. The Thai government is applying a 'One Health' approach, coordinating efforts between the Ministry of Public Health, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, the local authorities, and other relevant agencies to monitor and manage the risk, Dr Opas said. He advised the public to avoid contact with sick or dead poultry, not to consume animals that have died from unknown causes, and to maintain good hygiene practices. He also recommended wearing gloves when handling poultry and washing hands thoroughly afterwards. Anyone experiencing symptoms after visiting areas with reported outbreaks should seek medical attention promptly and inform health officials, the doctor urged. 'Officials continue to monitor the situation closely and encourage public cooperation to help reduce the risk of avian influenza transmission,' he said. As of June 27, Cambodia has recorded five deaths among seven confirmed cases in 2025, indicating a high fatality rate. Three of these cases occurred in June, with most patients presenting severe symptoms. - THE NATION/ ASIA NEWS NETWORK
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Health
- Straits Times
Thailand steps up monitoring at Cambodian border amid rise in bird flu cases
Thailand's health authorities have increased monitoring at the Cambodian border. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI Thailand steps up monitoring at Cambodian border amid rise in bird flu cases Thailand's health authorities have increased monitoring at the Cambodian border following the confirmation of a seventh human case of H5N1 avian influenza in Cambodia in 2025. Thailand's Ministry of Public Health's Permanent Secretary, Dr Opas Karnkawinpong, confirmed that while the country has not reported any human H5N1 cases in nearly 20 years, surveillance remains ongoing, especially given recent cases in neighbouring countries. Cambodian health officials recently reported their seventh H5N1 bird flu human infection in 2025. The patient is a 41-year-old woman who experienced fever, cough, and difficulty breathing after exposure to poultry that had died of illness near her home. The Thai government is applying a ' One Health ' approach, coordinating efforts between the Ministry of Public Health, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, the local authorities, and other relevant agencies to monitor and manage the risk, Dr Opas said. He advised the public to avoid contact with sick or dead poultry, not to consume animals that have died from unknown causes, and to maintain good hygiene practices. He also recommended wearing gloves when handling poultry and washing hands thoroughly afterwards. Anyone experiencing symptoms after visiting areas with reported outbreaks should seek medical attention promptly and inform health officials, the doctor urged. 'Officials continue to monitor the situation closely and encourage public cooperation to help reduce the risk of avian influenza transmission,' he said. As of June 27, Cambodia has recorded five deaths among seven confirmed cases in 2025, indicating a high fatality rate. Three of these cases occurred in June, with most patients presenting severe symptoms. THE NATION/ASIA NEWS NETWORK Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
New ways are needed to deal with accelerating change
Sultan Nazrin Shah, Sultan of Perak, delivering a keynote address during day two of ICCS at Raffles City Convention Centre on June 25. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI SINGAPORE - Countries must find bold new ways to better manage as their societies get continually transformed by technologies such as artificial intelligence, a group of eminent speakers urged on June 25. This need for agile and consultative governance is pressing as the benefits of digitalisation has unfortunately come at a considerable cost, such as the rise of digital echo chambers that feed prejudice and in the propagation of extremist ideologies, said the Sultan of Perak Nazrin Muizzuddin. Delivering the keynote speech at the second day of the annual International Conference of Cohesive Societies, the Sultan said digital transformation of society was one of three interlocking factors that have fuelled uncertainty and challenged social cohesion. 'Our digital spaces, which should be so good at opening doors and minds, are instead responsible for closing them,' he said. 'The very technologies that promise inclusion can entrench exclusion (while) our information ecosystems have become battlegrounds.' The other two factors he cited are the unprecedented pace of international migration due to reasons like climate change and political instability, and the rise in populism and protectionism caused by the unequal outcome from globalisation. At a discussion following the keynote, former Civil Service Head Peter Ho noted how social media has dramatically weakened the ability of governments to regulate information flows, and that misinformation is outpacing states' ability to correct them and control their impact. He referenced a stabbing incident in the United Kingdom that claimed the lives of three young girls in 2024. Far-right groups had stoked speculation online that the suspect was a Muslim migrant, despite the police clarifying that the attacker was born in the UK. This led to targeted attacks on the Muslim community, including a local mosque. Riots also erupted in 27 towns. The incident highlighted the jurisdictional limitations countries have in regulating social media platforms with a global reach, said Mr Ho, who is now a senior adviser at a think-tank, the Centre for Strategic Futures. It is a fool's errand to think that governments alone can regulate technology that is changing so fast and impacting society, he added. Fellow panellist Fadi Chehadé, who is managing partner at investment firm Ethos Capital, sketched out three ways in which AI will only accelerate the reconfiguring of societies. On the point of echo chambers, Mr Chehadé noted that AI will only result in further hyper personalisation of digital content, which could further atomise communities. The advent of AI also promises to multiply by millions of times the amount of misinformation that will be created, said the former president and CEO of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, a non-profit which coordinates the administration of the web's protocols. Lastly, the years ahead will see AI agents created at a pace that outnumbers the number of humans on the planet, dissolving the line separating the real world from cyberspace, he added. 'That's the world we're getting into, and I don't think any of us - or any government, or any one institution - has the power to slow down the hybrid world we're about to get into,' he said. (From left) Dean of S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies Kumar Ramakrishna, Senior Advisor of Centre for Strategic Futures Peter Ho, and former Mayor of Rotterdam Ahmed Aboutaleb, speaking at Plenary #2 on Navigating Uncertainty during day two of ICCS. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI But rather than look at the future with gloom, the experts sketched out ways in which countries can adapt to deal with the gathering pace of change. Panellist Ahmed Aboutaleb, the former mayor of Rotterdam, recounted his experience building trust between government institutions and citizens, which involved the time-tested approach of spending many evenings and hours engaging in face-to-face dialogue to understand people's needs and concerns. 'What people like is that the man or the woman in power gets to the level of the streets,' he said. Mr Ho called for governments to have the humility to know they need to work closely with the private sector and the people sector, as it is through this 'triangular relationship' that trust can be built up and consensus reached to tackle complex problems such as those brought about by technology. Agreeing, Mr Chehadé said these three groups working together can create a better form of multi-stakeholder governance. This is as the private sector would have to act within checks and balances, governments would not be imposing regulations that are out of sync with the digital world, and civil society and people will have their voices heard, he said. He also called for the legal concept of subsidiarity to apply to the governance of the digital world, which meant that regulations are shaped by each community based on its prevailing cultural norms, rather than for there to be universal standards imposed by distant authorities or bodies. Sultan Nazrin said the temptation during times of such upheaval would be to look to familiar ways of doing things, but that doing so would be a mistake. 'There is a temptation to retreat - to retreat into narrower circles of identity, to hoard privileges and to romanticise a past that, if we are honest and stripped away nostalgia, never was,' he said. Instead, he called for courage and clarity, which in the face of uncertainty 'can become a valuable compass and a crucible for renewal'. Quoting the philosopher Aristotle and singer Dolly Parton, the Sultan said: 'You cannot change the wind, but you can adjust the sails'. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Straits Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
More than a third of retail investors in S'pore face problems exercising their rights: Survey
About a quarter of the respondents said they met challenges in accessing company financial reports and disclosures. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI More than a third of retail investors in S'pore face problems exercising their rights: Survey SINGAPORE - More than a third of retail investors, or 37 per cent, experienced difficulties in exercising their rights, according to a new survey out on June 25. The survey, which was commissioned in 2024 by the Securities Investors Association (Singapore), or Sias, included the responses of 197 people in a bid to track the progress of investors' rights in Singapore and see what more needs to be done. Sias is the main investor-led organisation dedicated to investor education and the advocacy of retail investors' rights. It engages companies and regulators to improve corporate governance and transparency. The survey was also conducted with support from the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) and the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS). Of the respondents who said they faced difficulties, 41 per cent felt their voices were not heard enough when companies made decisions. Another 24 per cent said they met challenges in accessing company financial reports and disclosures. Some 22 per cent also reported encountering difficulties when voting at shareholder meetings because of unclear procedures and a lack of information. Lastly, 13 per cent said they experienced delays in receiving dividends and other things that shareholders are entitled to. SIT Associate Professor of Accounting Kevin Ow Yong said: 'From an accounting and finance perspective, it is imperative that there are adequate safeguards to protect investors so as to improve and maintain investor confidence towards Singapore Exchange-listed companies.' The report observed that there is room for further reforms to plug gaps in investor protection under the existing framework. The opportunity for reform has also cropped up, with the ongoing review by the Equities Market Review Group, which was set up in 2024 to boost Singapore's equities market. 'While it is important for regulation to be right-sized in order to improve and increase the quality of listings in Singapore, this should not be at the expense of investor protection, which is important to support both retail and institutional investment in Singapore's equities market,' the report said. Among the things investors wanted include having better mechanisms for investor redress and dispute resolution, and ensuring fair and equal access to information. Investors also said they want more transparency in corporate governance practices and to strengthen safeguards against insider trading and market manipulation. Strengthening shareholders' voting rights was also important to investors. The largest proportion of investors felt that more can be done to make information more accessible. The report noted: 'These respondents elaborated that they felt their rights were compromised due to a lack of communication about significant changes in business strategy and insufficient disclosure on company investments.' For instance, one company did not inform investors about a major strategy shift, particularly after being inactive in one of its primary businesses for several years. Shareholders then raised these concerns at annual general meetings, demanding clearer communication about the company's intentions. 'In this instance, the feedback led to improved communication, with the company directly addressing their concerns, leading to enhanced transparency and investor confidence,' the report said. It noted that the fact that some respondents want greater transparency in corporate governance practices also indicates a growing demand for greater openness, accountability and clarity in how companies are managed and directed. SUSS School of Law lecturer Lance Ang said: 'The recommendations in the study are particularly pertinent in light of the shift towards the 'disclosure-based regime' announced by the Equities Market Review Group in its ongoing review of the regulatory framework to attract listings.' He added that a disclosure-based approach that forms the basis of informed investor decision-making must be supported by private and public enforcement of disclosure breaches. These can enable investors to get compensation for losses, as well as ensure shareholders have access to information and investor education, he said. SUSS School of Business senior lecturer Tan Eng Joo noted that the findings suggest that enforcement alone is not enough to empower investors, but that it is also encouraging that 'no single area stands out as particularly deficient'. 'This reflects a balanced approach within existing investor protection mechanisms, supporting efforts to build a resilient and inclusive capital market where all investors feel heard, engaged, and safe,' Dr Tan said. Sias president David Gerald said that over the past decade, the organisation has seen a shift in Singapore where more investors are more proactive in asserting their rights. 'Through our persistent advocacy, constructive dialogue with regulators and listed companies, and empowering investors with knowledge, Sias has helped shape a more engaging investing community,' he said. 'This journey reflects our unwavering belief that protecting investor rights is fundamental to building trust and resilience in our capital markets.' Sue-Ann Tan is a business correspondent at The Straits Times covering capital markets and sustainable finance. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
