Commentary: Why high-tech farms fell short of Singapore’s ‘30 by 30’ goal

Every week, I meet residents who are turning balconies into herb gardens, growing leafy greens in corridor planters or tending allotment plots with neighbours. These are not hobbyists passing time. They are people reclaiming a sense of agency over their food and reconnecting with the land in small but meaningful ways.

These small spaces will not replace commercial farms, but they build something just as important: food awareness, community bonds and a shared sense of responsibility. They bring people closer to the food they eat and make fresh produce part of everyday life.

Imagine a Singapore supported not only by a few large facilities, but by thousands of growing spaces scattered across the city. Rooftops, void decks, balconies and community gardens forming a resilient, distributed food web. That is a system that is not only productive but also personal.