\n<\/p>\n
But the journey has its challenges, especially when it comes to the viability of running a farm.<\/p>\n
Nearly five years into his farming journey, Mr Leonard Teo remains uncertain about the future of his business.<\/p>\n
Mr Teo, 25, is the founder and resident farmer at Straits Agriculture, a rooftop farm along Upper Jurong Road. He entered the industry in 2021 during the pandemic, when food security was under the spotlight.<\/p>\n
Despite having a background in aerospace engineering, he taught himself how to farm through online resources.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Today, Straits Agriculture sells produce such as salad greens and mushrooms online, delivering them fresh to customers every Friday.<\/p>\n
Mr Teo said he faces high operating costs but\u00a0tries to cut expenses by\u00a0keeping water usage low and avoiding LED lights, industrial fans and air conditioning.<\/p>\n
“I don’t think we’re going to break even anytime soon,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOperationally, our cost is still relatively high \u2026 But we are still constantly fighting and battling prices from our imports, from outside our borders. There is no way we can beat their prices. We can try to be competitive, but that eats into our revenue as well as our profits.”<\/p>\n
He plans to continue farming until his lease expires in 2027 and is exploring other locations for his farm.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n