During the pandemic, many of us became more aware of how fragile global food supply chains can be. For Singapore, the conversation around food security intensified under the “30 by 30” vision led by the Singapore Food Agency - to strengthen local production and reduce reliance on imports.
Today, global uncertainties continue to test that resilience. The ongoing Russia-Ukraine War and escalating tensions in the Middle East, including the US Israel-Iran conflict, remind us that geopolitical shocks can quickly ripple through food systems.
Take poultry as an example. While Singapore has diversified its sources after the 2022 Malaysia chicken export ban, poultry production globally still depends heavily on imported feed such as corn and soy.
At the same time, alternative proteins once seen as a solution also have their own dependencies. Many plant-based products rely heavily on pea protein sourced from Canada, the United States, and China. In other words, the protein may be different, but the supply chain is still global.
This raises an important question: how can we build a more resilient protein ecosystem closer to home?
Two areas may deserve renewed attention.
Cultivated meat (Cell AgriTech) could allow meat production in urban bioreactors with significantly lower land requirements. One of the biggest challenges remains the cost of culture media. But perhaps there is an opportunity to develop a regional supply chain for these inputs from sugars and amino acids to yeast extracts sourced across Southeast Asia.
Precision fermentation (ScaleUp Bio) may scale even faster. Using feedstocks such as sugar, cassava, molasses, or agricultural side streams from neighbouring countries, fermentation can produce proteins, fats, and functional ingredients without traditional livestock farming.
Singapore (Nurasa) could play a unique role in this ecosystem:
• R&D (A*STAR Singapore Institute of Food and Biotechnology Innovation (SIFBI) and food tech innovation
• Bioprocessing and scale-up infrastructure
• Regulatory leadership and safety frameworks
• Regional collaboration with ASEAN feedstock suppliers
There may also be opportunities to align with broader regional ambitions such as Brunei Vision 2035, which aims to diversify the economy and strengthen food security. With land resources, investment capability, and a strong focus on sustainable development, Brunei could potentially complement Singapore’s strengths in food technology and innovation.
Food security is no longer just about producing more food locally. It is about building diversified, resilient and regionally integrated food systems.
If we continue strengthening partnerships across science, industry and our neighbouring countries, Southeast Asia could become a powerful hub for the next generation of sustainable proteins.
Samson Lee, Andrew Chee, Shawn Ong, Berlyn Chian
9 Mars 2026 à 08h24
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