Singapore backs nutrient efficiency for food resilience

Spanish Market: Agriculture, Fertilizers
30/10/26

Singapore is stepping up investment in nutrient efficiency and resource-recycling technologies as part of efforts to strengthen food resilience and support more sustainable agricultural production across southeast Asia.

The government has invested more than S$300mn ($234mn) in agri-food research and development since 2019 and this week committed a further S$138mn under its Research, Innovation and Enterprise (RIE) 2030 programme, including a newly dedicated food-resilience pillar, Singapore Food Agency deputy chief executive Leong Der Yao said at the Singapore Shizuoka Agri-Food Forum (SSAFF) 2026.

Singapore's Urban Solutions and Sustainability Innovation and Enterprise Office (USSIEO) also launched a S$40mn translation fund in February to accelerate commercial deployment of publicly funded technologies, including solutions applicable to agriculture and aquaculture.

The forum also showcased innovative ways to develop and increase the adoption of biostimulants and other speciality fertilizers to achieve higher nutrient efficiency. The emphasis on nutrient recovery, water recycling and precision farming reflects growing interest in technologies that can support fertilizer-use efficiency while reducing environmental losses.

With limited agricultural land, Singapore is increasingly pursuing regional partnerships that combine technology, training and standards development with production capacity in neighbouring countries. Projects under discussion include agricultural and aquaculture initiatives in Brunei, Bangladesh and other southeast Asian markets.

Industry participants said the model could support wider adoption of precision irrigation, nutrient-management systems and circular agriculture practices, potentially lifting demand for higher-efficiency and specialty fertilizer products.

Examples highlighted at the forum included a pineapple project in Malaysia's Sarawak state that converts agricultural waste into biochar, bioenergy, fibre and carbon credits, and proposals to integrate aquaculture with mangrove conservation in Brunei.

These initiatives underscore Singapore's strategy of exporting agri-food technology and production models regionally rather than scaling domestic output alone. For fertilizer markets, the trend points to growing regional interest in nutrient-efficiency solutions, recycled nutrient streams and specialty products designed to maximise yields while limiting nutrient losses.

By Huijun Yao

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28/10/26

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