Reviewing Multi-storey Car Parks' Rooftop Urban Farms' Contribution to Local Food Production
Ministry of Sustainability and the EnvironmentSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns Ms Mariam Jaafar’s inquiry into the performance of HDB rooftop urban farms regarding food production, financial viability, and resident disamenities. Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu Hai Yien stated that only seven of sixteen pilot sites remain, contributing less than 1% of local production in 2024. While these farms offer community engagement opportunities, their financial and employment outcomes are limited, with some residents reporting noise and odour issues. Consequently, the Government has no plans to launch new tenders for commercial farming at multi-storey car park sites. Instead, interested entities should consider SFA land and sea space tenders, which provide larger areas and longer leases to better support local food security.
Transcript
80 Ms Mariam Jaafar asked the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment whether the Government has conducted a review of the rooftop urban farms established on HDB multi-storey car parks since 2020, including (i) their contribution to local food production, (ii) their financial viability, (iii) the community engagement and employment outcomes achieved and (iv) the extent of disamenities, if any, reported by residents.
Ms Grace Fu Hai Yien: The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) and Housing Development Board (HDB) tendered out 16 Multi-Storey Car Park (MSCP) sites in 2020 and 2021 to pilot commercial urban farming. Only seven of these urban farms remain today.
The combined production volume of the MSCP farms is small, at less than 1% of local production in 2024. Employment outcomes and profitability are correspondingly limited. That said, these farms bring local production closer to the community, allowing farms to organise community engagement activities if there is interest.
SFA and HDB have received feedback on disamenities, such as noise and odour, due to the proximity of the farms to residential blocks. SFA investigates all feedback and works closely with farm operators to implement mitigating measures where possible.
There are no plans to launch new tenders for commercial farming at MSCP sites. Entities that wish to take up commercial farming can consider participating in SFA's land and sea space tenders, which offer more space and longer leases to contribute to local production and food security.