January 2021 - Netherlandsworldwide.nl
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2 About The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Singapore The Embassy of The Kingdom of the Netherlands is there to support your business. The Embassy’s main objective is to promote economic relations between Singapore and the Netherlands. The focus lies upon giving more detailed information about opportunities in sectors with high potential, where the Netherlands offers specific added–value: water & maritime, high tech, energy & environment, life sciences & health and food & nutrition. We offer active support to Dutch companies already present in Singapore and those starting to explore the Singaporean market i.a. by providing information about doing business in Singapore, supporting (online) trade missions and promoting Dutch business in Singapore. The embassy also provides advice to Singaporean companies interested in trade and investment in the Netherlands. We are bringing together the government and private sector to collaborate and innovate. Ravenry Ravenry transforms the way research works. We find answers to businesses’ biggest question in 48 hours by combining data and human intelligence. Our clients work with us to understand their customers better, find new market insights, keep their competitors abreast, and accelerate their business results. Ravenry is a trailblazer in the on-demand research industry. We have completed hundreds of projects for clients across the globe. Ravenry’s vision to empower businesses with connected data and people. See more : www.theravenry.com Ravenry Team Project Managers : Ricky Willianto Rininta Bella Yunissa Researcher : Michael Nathanael Hizkia Respatiadi Jeremy Lim Evelyn Yuliusman Michael Nathanael Editor : Marc Jitab Graphic Designer : Dimaz Adipradipto Copyright © 2021 Ravenry Pte. Ltd.
3 Contents Executive Summary 5 Industry Overview 7 Industry Segmentation and Size 8 Urban Farming 9 High-tech egg farms 11 Vertical vegetable farms 11 Other products and services 12 Opportunities and challenges 12 Alternative Proteins 14 Plant-based proteins 18 Fruit-based whole-food meat alternatives 18 Cultivated meat or cell-based protein 18 Other products and services 18 Opportunities and challenges 19 Aquaculture 20 Farm operators: Closed containment fish farms 22 End-to-end digital solutions and IoT for Aquaculture 23 Opportunities and challenges 23 Key Players 25 Urban Farming 26 High-tech egg farms 26 Vertical vegetable farms 26 Alternative Proteins 30 Plant-based Protein 30 Cultivated Meat or Cell-based or Lab-grown Meat 31 Copyright © 2021 Ravenry Pte. Ltd.
4 Whole Food Protein Alternatives 32 Insect Protein 33 Venture Capitals 33 Aquaculture 34 Farm Operators 34 Iot Players 36 Financing Players 37 Key Trends 38 Economic Trends 39 Consumer Trends 39 Technological Innovation Trends 42 Key Regulations 42 Other recent news and activities 44 Key Ecosystem Players 45 Opportunities and Challenges 54 Key Opportunities 55 Challenges 56 Copyright © 2021 Ravenry Pte. Ltd.
5 Executive Summary This report unfolds the current state of foodtech industry in Singapore. Starting off with the market estimation, this report segments the industry into three sub-industries namely: Urban Farming, Alternative Protein, and Aquaculture. Following the market sizing and estimation, products and services from each of the sub-industry are listed, along with the prominent players of each. We also listed 15 key players in the foodtech landscape in Singapore, also the current technology and key regulations, as well as the existing opportunities and challenges for this industry to develop. The market size is estimated by the available market figures in 2019 and the result is as follows. The market value of urban farming, aquaculture, and alternative proteins in 2019, in millions of SGD Segment Current Market Value Addressable Market Value Urban Farming 22 90.49 Alternative Proteins N/A 7,028.65 - 8,474.69 Aquaculture 33.3 91.2 As the report zooms into the sub-industries, readers will find the findings on the current trending available products in the market, followed by the notable players of each product or service. Urban farming is dominated by high-tech farms and vertical vegetable farms. Alternative proteins cover the products of plant-based proteins, fruit-based whole-food meat alternatives, and cultivated meat- or cell-based protein, while for aquaculture the report highlights farm operators: closed containment fish farms and end-to-end digital solutions and IoT for Aquaculture. The readers will also find the discourse about other products and services available. And once again, the report looks back on the greater view. The economic trends in Singapore find a challenge on consumption during COVID19 pandemic, however, the economic growth is expected to keep growing on about 4-6% in 2021. This situation provides a positive signal for tech-based agrifood start-ups that plan to initiate their businesses around the start of next year. Nevertheless, the Ministry also stated that the economic activity in the food services sector is unlikely to return to the pre-COVID level even by the end of 2021, and therefore, the start-ups should proceed carefully. Food consumption trends in Singapore shows that the country’s annual consumption per capita of conventional farm animals reached 55kg. This comes with environmental implication. Hence, this might be the opportunities for foodtech companies to convey the message about how foodtech might help to sustain the environment. This report also highlights the study from Tan. et. al (2020) which outlines five possible Copyright © 2021 Ravenry Pte. Ltd.
6 scenarios of Singapore’s food consumption trends and how each impacts the environment by 2030. The study can be a guide for foodtech company on how to create a maximum impact in Singapore. Key regulations are highlighted, specifically to those that might affect the operation of foodtech companies in Singapore, as well as the current news about the industry. The current news consists of the launches of the product, market perception, and multilateral agreements about food innovation that Singapore has taken part in. This report also spotlights the 15 key players in foodtech landscape in Singapore, ranging from government agencies, private companies, research agencies, collaborative network, and funding agencies/venture capitalists. The 15 highlighted are Enterprise Singapore (ESG), National Research Foundation (NRF), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Economic Development Board (EDB), Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI), Singapore Food Agency (SFA), Health Promotion Board (HPB), Ministry of Health (MOH), Agri-Food Innovation Park (AFIP), Aquaculture Innovation Centre (AIC), Food Ventures, GROW, Germi8, Temasek, Singapore Food Manufacturers’ Association. When the readers are now informed about the current state and trends about the foodtech industry, the opportunities and challenges are presented at the end of the report. The opportunities mainly come from government support. It also comes from how the growing number of foodtech startups aligns with the city’s population that continues to grow and the land remains limited, leading to the interest for tech-based and urban-focused food solutions are predicted to rise for the foreseeable future. At the same time, this report unfolds the challenges that may impact the marketability of food tech in Singapore, from its outdated regulations, human resources requirements, and consumer preferences on the cheaper price of conventional food. Copyright © 2021 Ravenry Pte. Ltd.
7 Industry Overview As Singapore relies on 90% of its food to be imported to meet 90% of its food needs, food insecurity is one of the country’s top concerns—especially when the entire world faces uncertain climate conditions that could wipe out harvests. In response, the country has prepared USD 72 billion to build infrastructure that can help overcome this health and nutrition challenge and, in doing so, has made Singapore stand out as an important food tech innovation hub in Asia. Copyright © 2021 Ravenry Pte. Ltd.
8 01 Industry Segmentation and Size This section divides the food tech industry into three sub-industries or segments: urban farming, aquaculture, and alternative proteins. Copyright © 2021 Ravenry Pte. Ltd.
9 Market size and market value estimates of these segments A bottom-up approach was used to estimate each segment’s market size, in which the total market size is determined from available statistics and aggregated to estimate the total. The report uses 2019 figures due to limitations in publicly available information. Table 1 summarizes the market value and market size of the three segments. Table 1. Market value of urban farming, aquaculture, and alternative proteins in 2019, in millions of SGD Segment Current Market Value Addressable Market Value Urban Farming 22 90.49 Alternative Proteins N/A 7,028.65 - 8,474.69 Aquaculture 33.3 91.2 Urban Farming Urban farming aims to feed the nation while keeping Singapore green. From vertical vegetable and high-tech farms to community gardens found in housing estates, offices, restaurants, schools, and rooftops, urban farms are taking root in Singapore. MARKET SIZE The total market size of urban farming in Singapore is derived from comparisons between the production and consumption figures of leafy vegetables. Based on Singapore Food Agency (SFA) figures, local production of Copyright © 2021 Ravenry Pte. Ltd.
10 leafy vegetables in 2019 is 12,698 metric tons, with an estimated total value of SGD 22 million (see Table 2). This accounts for 1 4% of total consumption in Singapore. The total market for leafy vegetables in Singapore is 90,700 metric tons in 2019, with an estimated value of SGD 157.15 million. Table 2. Estimated total market size and value of urban farming in Singapore, 2019 Total Local Value of Local Total Local Urban Value of Local Addressable Production Production Farming Production Urban Farming Market (metric tons) (million SGD) (metric tons) Production (million SGD) (million SGD) Urban Farming 12,698 22 1,900 3 90.49 The SFA’s latest figures in 2019 put the number of urban farms at 27 out of 77 total leafy vegetable farms in Singapore. This figure includes 25 indoor facilities and 2 rooftop facilities. Estimations place urban farms’ output at around 15% of the total local leafy vegetables produced in Singapore at 1,900 metric tons per year in 2019. The estimation is derived based on the total output of five well-known companies—Archisen, Citiponics, Sky Greens, VertiVegies and C omCrop—and estimated production numbers from other farms. Thus, the total market value for urban farms in 2019 is estimated at SGD 3 million. In terms of the potential addressable market, the Singaporean government’s ‘30 by 30’ plan reveals a significant food production gap, which it aims to solve through agritech. The ‘30 by 30’ plan seeks to increase local production to 30% of total consumption by 2030. Using just 2019 figures alone, the expected gap for local production is already at 14,512 metric tons. This puts Copyright © 2021 Ravenry Pte. Ltd.
11 the potential addressable market for urban farming in 2019 at SGD 25.15 million. When including other segments, the gap becomes significantly larger at 35,809 metric tons of production with an estimated value of SGD 87.20 million in total. If urban farming methods account for all the gaps in local production, as expected by the ‘30 by 30’ plan, that puts the total segment at a value of SGD 90.49 million in 2019. As Singapore’s population is expected to grow from 5.7 to 6.9 million by 2030, it is expected that the total segment’s value will also increase. PRODUCT AND SERVICES High-tech egg farms High-tech egg farms incorporate automation in the farm’s processes to minimize human involvement. This technology enables farmers to better control the farm environment through, for example, maintaining an adequate range of nutrients and proper amount of feed, keeping the chickens stress-free, and, subsequently, realizing their full potential. Computers in the system can take photographs of each egg to check for hairline fractures and determine if it is clean or dirty, all in an effort to deliver high-quality eggs to the customer. This technology is implemented by Seng Choon Farm (please refer to Section 2: Key Players). Vertical vegetable farms Vertical vegetable farms are suitable in hot and humid climates such as Singapore’s. It grows non-native plants in a controlled environment, utilizing Copyright © 2021 Ravenry Pte. Ltd.
12 AI and LED lighting to help plants photosynthesize, extend the harvested plants’ shelf-life, and reduce food waste, Sustenir (please refer to the Section 2: Key Players) adopts this technology. This technology enables foreign plants to be planted locally, reducing both the carbon emissions that would otherwise result from international food transportation and the amount of wasted food that’s usually created from the logistical process of importing fresh crops. Other products and services Other horticulture or urban farming technology that is increasing in Singapore includes community gardens found in housing estates, offices, restaurants, schools, and rooftops. Instead of planting ornamental greens, gardeners plant edible vegetables and fruit such as cabbage, basil, and lime. Today, the National Park Board’s popular ‘Community In Bloom’ program has more than 1,000 community gardening groups. Aquaponics systems, which consist of running circulated water through custom-made stainless steel waterspouts, are also highlighted in urban farming. OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES Opportunities High acceptance by consumers to purchase locally sourced foods Another potential key opportunity in driving the growth for this sub-sector is the higher acceptance by consumers to purchase locally sourced produce. This is especially pushed ahead in recent times by the disruption in Covid-19. An overwhelming majority of consumers are willing to purchase local produce, although identification is a major problem. Furthermore, price remains a major obstacle in generating local demand, as even a 2 to 5% premium can turn away consumers. As a response, the government has rolled out a new “SG Fresh Produce” logo which would tackle the first limitation. The government is also constantly educating the public on the premiums of local production. Copyright © 2021 Ravenry Pte. Ltd.
13 Challenges Government Requirements to Convert into High-Tech Farms One of the key challenges for the sub-sector, particularly in the area of digitizing or converting traditional farms into high-tech farms, is the stringent requirements attached to readily available funds. The requirements to apply for the government’s Agricultural Productivity Fund, farmers need to submit proposals which require technical as well as business expertise in the new technologies. This undoubtedly provides a barrier to entry to some of these funds, and as such provides a hamper to the growth of products catering to this segment. Possible disruption from alternative proteins to high-tech egg farms and plant-based substitute A major potential disruption, specifically for high-tech egg farms, comes from the alternative proteins industry. Currently, plant-based substitutes have existed in the market, and it is estimated that the demand is expected to grow by 6% year on year. However, recent innovations in the area of lab-grown protein, such as by US-based Clara Foods, have also brought this disruption even closer on the horizon. Although this disruption is expected to negatively impact the growth and sustainability of high-tech egg farms, they are not an immediate threat given the lack of competitively priced products on the market. For example, Just Egg, a comparable product on the market, is priced at over 2 times the price of an egg. High costs on building and developing a high tech farm The viability of urban farming remains dubious. A research from AgFunderNews disclosed that urban farming can cost between 3-5 times higher than conventional farming. The cost incurs in economic and environmental terms. Urban farming is a high user of artificial lighting which requires energy. Other advanced farming technology through high-tech machines and smart devices in this sector would drive increased energy consumption, which is further compounded by Singapore’s reliance on fossil fuels such as natural gas or crude oil and inability to efficiently produce energy from renewables. Vertical farms, for example, are found to produce higher GHG emissions than standard greenhouses. Copyright © 2021 Ravenry Pte. Ltd.
14 Alternative Alternative proteins are a group of meat substitutes. There are four alternative protein types: Proteins ● plant-based protein, which comes entirely from plants such as nuts, fruits, beans, and vegetables, ● cultivated, cell-based, or lab-grown meat, which uses animal cells to create substitutes for seafood, meat, and dairy, ● whole food protein alternatives, which use existing plants or fungi to imitate the texture, taste, and behavior of meat-like products, and ● insect protein. MARKET SIZE At the moment, Singapore’s alternative proteins market is primarily composed of plant-based meat substitutes. The ravage of the Coronavirus pandemic has shifted the distribution model of all players from processed (i.e., selling alternative proteins through dining establishments) to direct channels (i.e., selling through retailers) while also boosting sales several times over. With no publicly available sales figure on these firms, in addition to their disrupted conventional sales model, it is difficult to determine the current size and value of the alternative proteins market. However, the size of the untapped market can be calculated through the per capita consumption of protein. Table 3 highlights the total consumption of animal-based protein in Singapore for the year 2019. Per capita consumption is multiplied by Singapore’s population count for the year 2019. The sum is then subtracted by 10% to account for people with a vegetarian/vegan/pescatarian or “flexitarian” diet (7% in the case of seafood proteins such as fish and shrimp). The resulting figure is the estimated true total consumption of animal-based proteins in Singapore for the year 2019. Table 3. Estimated total consumption of animal-based protein in Singapore, 2019, in metric tons Protein type Per capita Total consumption Exclusion of vg/ve/ps True consumption (minus consumption diets vg/ve/ps) Chicken 34 kg 193,921.35 46,392.14 147,529.21 Pork 20 kg 114,071.38 11,407.14 102,664.24 Beef 4 kg 22,814.28 2,281.43 20,532.85 Copyright © 2021 Ravenry Pte. Ltd.
15 Fish 16 kg 91,257.10 6,387.99 84,869.11 Hen shell eggs 21 kg 119,774.95 11,977.5 107,797.45 Duck 2 kg 11,407.14 1,140.71 10,266.43 Mutton 2 kg 11,407.14 1,140.71 10,266.43 Other seafood (Shrimp) 6 kg 34,221.41 2,395.5 31,825.91 The true consumption value is used as the input for further processing into market sizing scenarios, assuming no population growth. Based on the Health Promotion Board’s (HPB) recommendations to shift Singaporeans’ optimal diet, it is estimated that meat, eggs, and fish consumption would reduce by about 3%. After adjusting this consumption downwards, the new adjusted consumption is then further segmented to account for the conversion of flexitarian diets, accounting for 39% of Singaporeans’ diets. Two scenarios are created whereby meat eaters (42% of Singaporeans) partially convert; the first scenario is at 25% conversion, and the second scenario is at 50% conversion. The resulting calculations are exhibited in Table 4. Copyright © 2021 Ravenry Pte. Ltd.
16 Table 4. Conversion of meat consumption to alternatives in Singapore, 2019, in metric tons Protein type True consumption Adjustment Conversion of Meat eater Meat eater conversion (minus vg/ve/ps) with HPB flexitarians conversion (25% ratio) (50% ratio) Chicken 174,529.21 169,293.33 66,024.40 17,775.80 35,551.60 Pork 102,664.24 99,584.31 38,837.88 10,456.35 20,912.71 Beef 20,532.85 19,916.86 7,767.58 2,091.27 4,182.54 Fish 84,869.11 82,323.04 32,105.98 8,643.92 17,287.84 Hen shell eggs 107,797.45 104,563.53 40,779.78 10,979.17 21,958.34 Duck 10,266.43 9,958.44 3,883.79 1,045.64 2,091.27 Mutton 10,266.43 9,958.44 3,883.79 1,045.64 2,091.27 Other seafood 31,825.91 30,871.13 12,039.74 3,241.47 6,482.94 (Shrimps) Adding these conversions together provides a clear total market size for plant-based substitutes in Singapore in 2019 (see Table 5). Comparable prices for plant-based substitutes are taken from multiple sources and converted into a per-kilogram price for ease of calculation. Unfortunately, no comparable products were found to substitute duck; therefore, this market size’s value is not added. However, given it is relatively small, the omission of this value is not regarded as a problem. Thus, based on the calculation provided so far, the total market value for plant-based substitutes under Scenario 1 (25% Conversion) is 6,921.78 million SGD and 8,390.04 million SGD under Scenario 2 (50% Conversion). Table 5 . Estimated total market size and value of plant-based substitutes in Singapore, 2019 Protein type Total market size Total market size Price of Total market value Total market value (25% conversion) (50% conversion) comparable (25%) (million SGD) (50%) (million SGD) products/kg Chicken 83,800.20 101,576.00 20.00 1,676.00 2,031.52 Pork 49,294.23 59,750.59 32.83 1,618.33 1,961.61 Copyright © 2021 Ravenry Pte. Ltd.
17 Beef 9,858.85 11,950.12 55.08 543.03 658.21 Fish 40,749.90 49,393.82 22.14 902.20 1093.58 Hen shell eggs 51,758.95 62,738.12 26.02 1,346.68 1,632.34 Duck 4,929.43 5,975.06 - - - Mutton 4,929.43 5,975.06 14.50 71.48 86.64 Other seafood 15,281.21 18,522.68 50.00 764.06 926.13 (Shrimp) Total size 6,921.78 8,390.04 However, another crucial segment that comprises the alternative proteins market, besides plant-based substitutes, is lab-grown meats. Also known as cultured meats, lab-grown meats are still very much in the development and trial stages, and Singapore is the only country in the world that has approved lab-grown chicken meat for sale. The market for early adopters of lab-grown chicken meat is estimated at SGD 218 million in 2019, assuming no conversion into plant-based substitutes. When taking into account conversion into plant-based substitutes, the market is estimated to be between SGD 84.65 to 106 million in 2019. Considering this product reaches critical mass with an 84% adoption rate at half the price, the market is estimated to be between SGD 1,422 million to 1,759.36 million (see Table 6). Table 6. Estimated total market size and value of lab-grown chicken in Singapore, 2019 Adoption stage Unconverted Unconverted Planned Total market value Total market value market (scenario 1) market (scenario 2) price/kg (scenario 1) (scenario 2) Early adopter (2.5% of 85,493.13 67,717.33 50.00 106.87 84.65 market adoption) Mass market (84% of 85,493.13 67,717.33 50.00 1,795.36 1,422.06 market adoption) Copyright © 2021 Ravenry Pte. Ltd.
18 PRODUCT AND SERVICES Plant-based proteins Plant-based proteins are entirely derived from plants such as nuts, fruits, beans, and vegetables. Some of the companies that offer plant-based proteins are Beyond Meat, Eat Just, and Impossible Foods. Eat Just is well-known for its plant-based eggs made from mung beans. Called the Just Egg, it was launched in Singapore in November 2018. Compared to conventional chicken farms, plant-based eggs require less land and water while also producing less carbon emissions. Impossible Foods offers burgers, pork, and sausages made from plants. Fruit-based whole-food meat alternatives Whole food protein alternatives use existing plants or fungi to imitate the texture, taste, and behavior of meat-like products, such as Karana’s young jackfruit meat alternative. Cultivated meat or cell-based protein Cultivated, cell-based or lab-grown meat uses animal cells to substitute seafood, meat, and dairy. Shiok Meats and TurtleTree Labs are the most well-known startups developing this type of alternative protein. Other products and services Another trend in the alternative proteins world is the rise of insect-based proteins for human and animal consumption. Insect-based proteins, in the form of powder made from, for example, black soldier larvae (BSF), are currently used in fish and animal feed. The idea is to maximize the efficacy of what is being fed to the animal since insects can break down food waste more quickly than other organisms. The SFA has already approved BSF powder for use as fish food. The most prominent agrotech startups which make insect-based proteins are Nutrition Technologies and Protenga. Copyright © 2021 Ravenry Pte. Ltd.
19 OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES Opportunities Friendly regulations in comparison to other countries One of the biggest key opportunities driving the dynamics of the alternative prot sub-industry in Singapore is its relatively friendly regulatory regime compared to other countries. Following reorganisation in 2019 and 2020, a new novel food regulatory framework was launched which simplifies and accelerates the approv process up to 6 months compared to the more cumbersome process in the EU. Th resulted in a major victory for the Singaporeans as they became the first country the world to approve the sales of lab-grown chicken meat. Aside from increasing reputation and prestige of Singapore as a foodtech hub, the new regulations wou attract many foreign companies to invest in Singapore, given frontier tech relies being the first to market. This is in addition to the high government interest in the sub-sector owing to the 30x30 plan. High acceptance for alternative proteins by customers Another key opportunity for the sub-industry is higher acceptance of alternative proteins by Singaporean consumers. Though not directly comparable, a recent study by Bryant et al. (2019) found Indians and Chinese (which makes up around 83% of the total population in Singapore) are more likely to accept and purchase these alternatives compared to American consumers. However, acceptance also hinges on the price of these products as Singaporeans are the most price-conscious consumers in the world. This will prove challenging as prices of current products are still relatively higher compared to comparable products. Challenges Limited market due to plant-based vs lab-grown protein preference One of the main challenges within the sub-industry is the divide between plant-based proteins and lab-grown proteins. At current commercialization trends, plant-based proteins is set to be a significant part of the alternative proteins sub-industry mainly because it is more commercially developed than lab-grown. However, as lab-grown proteins become more commercially advanced, consumers who adopt plant-based meat out of ethical reasons are likely to switch to lab-grown proteins. Thus, the growth of alternative protein Copyright © 2021 Ravenry Pte. Ltd.
20 sub-industry might be slightly limited, with more internal cannibalization as the playing field between both variants of alternative meats levels. Imported raw materials for production Another major challenge specifically in the case of Singapore is in terms of profitability. As the tech is relatively new, few countries in the world possess the required infrastructure and ecosystem to support such an industry. However, when competitors start to spring up around the region, the case for locally produced plant-based or lab-grown alternative proteins seems to wither. The first major problem comes from Singapore’s lack of natural inputs. Plant-based alternatives commonly use ingredients such as soya or coconut oil, all of which have to be imported for local production. This presents cost constraint and potential for supply disruptions for local producers. Meanwhile, lab-grown meats would require significantly more energy consumption, which is a constraint perhaps unique to Singapore (see General Trends). Furthermore, as previously mentioned, Singapore’s small market size makes scaling up production more challenging compared to its neighbours which are significantly larger. As such, the value of local production in Singapore is not particularly sustainable for the long-term as opposed to the research and development activities. Aquaculture Singapore’s aquaculture ecosystem consists of farm operators, Internet of Things (IoT) players, and aquaculture financiers. MARKET SIZE The total market size of tech-based aquaculture produce in Singapore is derived by comparing seafood production and consumption figures. Figures from the SFA show local seafood production (excluding those captured from the sea) at 3,917 metric tons at an estimated value of SGD 33.3 million. Local seafood production (including those captured from the sea) accounts Copyright © 2021 Ravenry Pte. Ltd.
21 for 10% of total consumption in Singapore. In total, this puts the size of the fisheries market in Singapore in 2019 at SGD 456 million. Based on 2019 figures, there are around 122 fish farms in Singapore, with 110 coastal-based farms producing 85% of the total output and 12 land-based farms producing the remaining 15%. However, unlike urban farming, fully digitalized tech-based farms are still few. The only commercial-sized tech-based coastal fish farm owned by Barramundi Asia yielded 700 tons of Asian seabass (barramundi) in 2019, which accounted for 17.87% of Singapore’s total production, or about 21% of all coastal-based farms’ output. Meanwhile, Apollo Aquaculture Group’s vertical farming solutions yielded around 110 tons of various seafood, including hybrid grouper, coral trout, white shrimp, and blue shrimp. This accounts for roughly 20% of the total output of land-based farms in 2019. Thus, using both companies as proxies, in addition to assuming yields from small-scale operations, the total market value of tech-based aquaculture farms in 2019 is estimated at SGD 6.97 million. Considering the Singaporean government’s ‘30 by 30’ plan, aquaculture tech’s potential addressable market is huge. Compared to 2019 figures, the existing gap is estimated at 7,834 metric tons with a total value of SGD 91.2 million (see Table 7). This would necessitate more than doubling the current output level on conventional farms with more high-tech solutions. For coastal farms, this could result in a total range between SGD 75 to 100 million, based on comparable investments made by Singapore Aquaculture Technology in artificial intelligence (AI) and video analytics systems. Copyright © 2021 Ravenry Pte. Ltd.
22 Table 7. Estimated total market size and value of aquaculture in Singapore, 2019 Total local Value of local Total local Value of local Addressable production production aquaculture aquaculture market (metric tons) (million SGD) production production (million SGD) (metric tons) (million SGD) Aquaculture 3,917 33.3 820 6.97 91.2 Mass market (84% of 85,493.13 67,717.33 50.00 1,795.36 1,422.06 market adoption) Land-based farming might drive a higher proportion of total value captured in the aquaculture tech segment, given the higher potential productivity of technologies introduced, which allows for vertical-based aquaculture. For example, Apollo’s recirculating aquaculture system could yield two to five times more product than conventional coastal-based farms, while Universal Aquaculture’s hybrid biological recirculation system could yield better quality products in a shorter timeframe. However, similar to urban farming tech companies, new tech entrants are committed to commercializing their tech by entering production rather than selling it to third parties. PRODUCT AND SERVICES Farm operators: Closed containment fish farms A closed containment fish farm uses high-tech tanks that can precisely control fish farming elements such as oxygen levels, waste, and feed to achieve a higher yield. The conventional method is to use an open-air water tank, which has unpredictable elements. The closed containment system is also known as a recirculating aquaculture system, in which water is recycled through a multi-level treatment process. Since the water quality is closely monitored and the water is filtered, UV-treated, and oxygenated to maintain conducive conditions to grow stress-free fish, the fish-growing capacity can be increased by four times higher than open-air tanks with the same amount of water. A biofilter is used to break down fish waste, turning ammonia into nitrogen, which helps avoid overfeeding. Further innovations in this high-tech Copyright © 2021 Ravenry Pte. Ltd.
23 tank include sensors and other equipment that permit video analysis of the fish’s tracking behavior and swimming patterns to maintain its quality. This technology is implemented by Singapore Aquaculture Technologies (Please refer to Section 2: Key Players) End-to-end digital solutions and IoT for Aquaculture End-to-end digital solutions employ AI, satellite remote sensing, and IoT to help farmers improve their farm productivity, control the water environment to minimize risk, and subsequently increase their earnings. These solutions use sensors and other hardware in the closed containment tanks used by the farm operators to video capture and analyze the fish’s tracking behavior or hunger. UMITRON is one such company that deploys such solutions (please refer to Section 2: Key Players). OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES Opportunities Fish is prioritized staple food by government’s plan Based on the Singaporean government’s plans, fish is one of the prioritized staple foods. The aforementioned 30x30 Express grants granted during the Covid-19 situation is one evidence of this. Aside from providing priority financing for this sub-sector, the government is also keen to develop a network of partners to support the ecosystem, such as a partnership with Friends of Sea, an Italian certifier of sustainable aquaculture practices. As such, it can be expected that the government will champion the sub-sector for the foreseeable future. Challenges Empowerment of small-scale fish farms remains questioned Presently, a major challenge for the aquaculture industry is the issue regarding how the structure of the industry will be shaped at. At the moment, most fish farm operators are small scale with low tech enablement. Following trends from both t he evolution of the agriculture sector as well Copyright © 2021 Ravenry Pte. Ltd.
24 experiences from the evolution of the aquaculture sector in other countries, it is likely that small farms will be s upplanted by high-tech large farms. Based on current technologies, l ess than 10 large farms are needed to fully supplant local production. As such, the efficacy of digitizing small scale Singaporean fish farms would be questionable given their growing insignificance in the near future. This will also create uncertainty in terms of policies that the government will adopt in response to this issue. Furthermore, there are concerns regarding the excess production from these large-farms considering the market in Singapore is relatively small. Experts point to p rice stability as a potential concern for the distributors. Disruption from the alternative proteins industry The biggest long-term challenge facing the aquaculture industry in Singapore is the potential disruption from the alternative protein sub-industry. Innovations within this sub-industry have delivered commercial plant-based substitutes such as plant-based tuna and plant-based shrimps. Lab-grown meat is also picking up pace all around the world, with a specific Singaporean company Shiok Meat developing lab-grown shrimp meat. Thus, with potentially new sources of supply and further constraints from Singapore’s small market size, the case for a sustainable growth for this sub-industry in the future seems bleak. Yet, given the many challenges facing the alternative proteins industry (as discussed later on), these difficulties are not particularly pressing in the immediate future in terms of market competition. Uncertainty for the private investors However, the lack of a bright future for the sub-industry itself creates an atmosphere of uncertainty for private investors, which might explain the lack of large-scale private investments in these startups. Most new ventures have been undertaken either by established players such as Apollo Aquaculture Group’s vertical fish farm or through government funds such as in the case of Smart Floating Fish Farm. Thus, the working dynamic between the ventures and the investors would be significantly different than other tech-based startups which are more dominated by growth investors. Study by Brander et al. (2010) shows that excess government support might actually hinder the performance of the new venture. Copyright © 2021 Ravenry Pte. Ltd.
25 02 Key Players This section will highlight 5-6 top players in each of the sub-industry, preceded by a table displaying a long list of existing players. Copyright © 2021 Ravenry Pte. Ltd.
26 Urban Farming HIGH TECH EGG FARMS Seng Choon Farm The first egg producer in Southeast Asia to use high-technology processes such as quality scanners, to sort, grade, scan & clean eggs Chew’s Agriculture One of the leading producers of fresh eggs in Singapore, with more than 30 years of history N&N Agriculture Producing pasteurized egg using precision-pasteurization process to kill Salmonella bacteria and Bird Flu virus that present inside and outside the eggs Seng Choon Farm Seng Choon Farm, which has provided the Singapore market with eggs for more than 30 years, has shifted their conventional egg farming method to a more high-tech path in 2010 to cope with the increasing demand for eggs in Singapore. Thanks to the incorporation of automation, in which most of the farm’s processes are completed by machines and require minimal human involvement, Seng Choon can produce 625,000 eggs a day with only 100 workers on the farm to meet the local market demand for eggs. Such technology enables Seng Choon to control the farm environment, including maintaining an adequate range of nutrients and the proper amount of feed, keeping the chickens stress-free, and subsequently realizing its full potential. The farm then further advanced their high-technology egg farming business by deploying computer scanners that can take multiple photographs of an egg to check for hairline cracks and determine if it is clean or dirty with an accuracy of 99%. VERTICAL VEGETABLE FARMS Singrow A vertical farming solution that addresses every step of planting, from breeding to harvesting ComCrop Singapore’s urban farming pioneer, growing food on rooftops near where communities live by modernized marginalized spaces and embracing modernized workers to grow and harvest the highest quality pesticide-free produce Copyright © 2021 Ravenry Pte. Ltd.
27 Sustenir Sustenir produce seasonal crops all year round through Controlled Environment Agriculture Edible Garden City Design, build and maintain food gardens in tropical urban Singapore, which include restaurants, hotels, schools, residences, and more. Over the last 7 years, they have completed 200 food gardens in Singapore Sky Greens World’s first low carbon, hydraulic driven vertical farm Citiponics Citiponics uses Aqua Organic System (AOS), a vertical growing system with its strategically designed structure, system and functionalities VertiVegies Social enterprise controlled environment farming which enables quality and traceable food production all year round with no pesticides, no contaminants and no genetic modification Artisan Green Artisan Green offers pesticide-free hydroponics technology Green Harvest Green Harvest grows and wholesales of fruits and vegetables Liv Fresh Cultivate nutrient-rich greens in a pollution-free, chemical-free and sustainable environment using hydroponic farming processes Genesis One Tech Farm Indoor farm with the tallest racking system in Singapore, with a hybrid Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) system that uses very small amounts of water usually highly needed in hydroponic system methods. Singrow Singrow applies state-of-the-art agrotechnology to grow fresh fruits economically. It grows a strawberry variety adapted to the humid Singaporean weather, with a sweeter taste and softer texture, named the Crystal Strawberry. Singrow uses precise climate and nutrient controls on every strawberry cultivation phase for shortening the planting duration from over 6 months, under natural conditions, to only 3.5 months. It also uses minimal air conditioning and pesticides. Singrow not only crafts its plants; it also designs its planting technology. A strawberry-specific hydroponic rack is designed to make it easier to care for and cultivate the fruit, and such racks are equipped with lighting that emits specific wavelengths. Currently, Copyright © 2021 Ravenry Pte. Ltd.
28 Singrow is in partnership with Nusgrip, MVP Studio, GWS Living Art, and the Global Green Technology Center, and it also receives funding from Grow and Enterprise Singapore to accelerate its business. ComCrop ComCrop claims to be Singapore’s first and only commercial rooftop farming company. Its products are grown on unused rooftop spaces using advanced hydroponic technology, which uses 90% less water than conventional farms, does away with pesticides or herbicides and grows the crops near where people live. With the advantage of natural sunlight on the rooftop, combined with the farm’s short distance from the community, the running costs can be kept lower. This results in a better price for the community, besides delivering a healthier product. The plants are grown in greenhouses that can be climate-controlled to manage optimal growing conditions without the need for artificial air conditioning. Where possible, ComCrop employs from the elderly and marginalized communities for its plant collection, fresh produce packaging needs, and other farm activities. Sustenir Sustenir’s vertical farming technology introduces an alternative to the present food system that is more suited to Singapore’s hot and humid climate. The startup’s goal is to grow non-native plants in a controlled, local environment so that the reliance on imports can be lowered. The company utilizes AI and LED lightning to help plants photosynthesize, extend their harvested plants’ shelf-life, and reduce food waste. Additionally, planting foreign plants in a local facility lowers the carbon footprint from food transportation and reduces food wastage created from the logistical process of importing fresh crops. Sustenir has grown strawberries and arugula in its hydroponic vertical farming facility since 2019. The company uses biology, technology, and farming science to further advance its vertical farming system. For example, it also develops its strawberry-specific racks where the strawberries can grow outward instead of upward, enabling it to deploy a harvesting robot to move along the rack and snip the strawberries instead of picking them. Copyright © 2021 Ravenry Pte. Ltd.
29 Edible Garden City Claimed to be the champions of the grow-your-own movement around the world, Edible Garden City constructs, builds, and manages food gardens in the tropical urban city of Singapore. Its clients include hotels, restaurants, schools, and residences. It performs and operates farming workshops to supply fresh vegetables, flowers, and herbs to F&B entities and housing estates. Edible Garden City has been supported by several grants, including one from the DBS Foundation since 2017, which enabled it to create a recirculating water hydroponic system that uses 90% less water and 50% less substrate, and another, from the Temasek Foundation, which enabled them to build a two-story, mobile, climate-controlled, plug-and-play container farm for under-utilized car parks and rooftops. Sky Greens Sky Greens is the world’s first hydraulically driven, low-carbon vertical farm. It uses green urban solutions to produce fresh, healthy, and tasty vegetables using minimal water, energy, and land resources. Its patented vertical farming system consists of rotating tiers of vegetables planted on A-shaped, 9-meter-tall, 38-tier growing troughs with an aluminum frame. The aluminum frame can accommodate different growing media, be it hydroponics or soil. The troughs revolve around the aluminum frame to ensure that the plants obtain homogeneous levels of water, sunlight, and vitamins as they pass through different points on the rack. Compared to conventional one-layer farms, the patented vertical farming system increases the land’s density and subsequently increases the yield by 10 times per unit of land. Since the farming system is built in a controlled environment, the input materials to deliver food supply, security, safety, and quality assurance can be strictly controlled. The system can produce 1 ton of vegetables every other day. In 2015, Sky Green won the INDEX: Award 2015, the most prestigious of its kind in the design world where innovations that upgrade the world are highly valued. Copyright © 2021 Ravenry Pte. Ltd.
30 Alternative PLANT-BASED PROTEIN Proteins Eat Just Mung bean that taste like eggs. Life3 Biotech Innovative, award-winning company focus on plant-based protein combining agritech, biotech and foodtech. Beyond Meat Plant based meat combining expert innovation with non GMO ingredients offering equal or even bigger protein levels than their animal counterparts, no cholesterol, less saturated fat, and no antibiotics or hormones. Impossible Foods Impossible Foods offers burger, pork and sausage made from plants. Memphis Meats World’s first cell-based beef meatball in 2016 and world’s first cell-based chicken and duck in 2017. Right Treat Right Treat offers all purpose plant-based pork analogue that is nutritional superior and environmentally friendly. Zhen Meat Zhen Meat offers natural plant-based meat with no animal ingredients, no hormones and no antibiotics added. Phuture Food The PHUTURE®y has incorporated rice into PHUTURE® blend which creates the delicious fatty, juicy mouthfeel to our plant-based product, mimicking that of the building blocks in meat. Shandi Shandi uses plant-based functional ingredients to create plant-based meat analogues using “high performance chromatography” technology to change plants characteristic at the molecular level. Growthwell Growthwell offers Chickp, a plant-based, chickpea protein isolate as an alternative to meat and dairy. Sophie’s BioNutrients Sophie’s BioNutrients offers plant-based protein with microalgae. Lvl Lvl offers superfood drink mixes. Eat Just Eat Just is well-known for its plant-based eggs, the Just Egg. It was launched in Singapore in November 2018. Compared to conventional chicken farms, plant-based eggs require less land and water, produce less carbon emissions, are lower in cholesterol, are antibiotic-free, and are non-GMO, while Copyright © 2021 Ravenry Pte. Ltd.
31 maintaining the same protein content. The plant used to make plant-based eggs is a protein-rich legume called the mung bean, which is claimed to be able to scramble like eggs and achieve a similar flavor, texture, and color to that of chicken eggs. Eat Just will have the largest plant protein production facility in Singapore, thanks to its partnership with the investment management firm Proterra Asia in October 2020. CULTIVATED MEAT OR CELL-BASED OR LAB-GROWN MEAT Shiok Meat Shiok meat offers cell-based clean crustacean meat (shrimp, crab, lobster) company, the first of its kind in Singapore and South-East Asia. TurtleTree Labs TurtleTree Labs creates milk from cell based process. Avant Meats Avant Meatst uses cell technology to make premium delicacy from the sea without sacrificing the ocean. Shiok Meat Shiok Meat is a cell-based clean meat company. It is the first of its kind in Singapore and Southeast Asia to develop cell-based crustacean meats (shrimp, crab, and lobster). ‘Shiok,’ in Malay and Singaporean slang, means ‘fantastic’ or ‘delicious.’ Its cell-based meats and seafood are made by first taking a small sample of shrimp cells. The cells are then grown in a nutrient-rich environment, harvested, and used to make food products such as siew mai, a popular dim sum dish. Shiok Meat is funded by numerous venture capitals, including Big Idea Ventures, Angel Investor, and Babel Ventures. In October 2020, Shiok Meats announced that it secured USD 12.6 million in Series A financing to produce sustainable, clean, and cruelty-free crustacean meats. A month later, it launched the world’s first cell-based lobster meat in an exclusive tasting event. TurtleTree Labs TurtleTree Labs is the first biotechnology company in the world that uses biotechnology to produce real, whole milk from cell cultivation. The milk is safe, healthy, and can be made with far less natural resources while leaving a smaller carbon footprint than conventional dairy farming. The company targets to secure 30% of Singapore’s nutritional needs with lab-grown milk Copyright © 2021 Ravenry Pte. Ltd.
32 that matches the composition, taste, and functionality of cow’s milk. The cell-based milk can then be used to make various dairy products such as cheese, butter, cream, and yogurt. The company’s claim to be the first and only company that can imitate dairy milk’s exact composition is a competitive advantage over its plant-based milk competitors—who are trying to capitalize on the climbing popularity of veganism—as plant-based milk does not have the same taste and functionality of regular cow’s milk. WHOLE FOOD PROTEIN ALTERNATIVES Karana Karana offers whole plant young jackfruit, no meat asian food which is high fibre, low GI, minimally processed and cholesterol free, allowing genuinely meaty taste and texture. Confetti Fine Foods Confetti Fine Foods crafts snacks from delectable veggies that is still high in nutrient. Karana Karana utilizes the regionally bountiful young jackfruit to construct sustainable whole foods and vegan-friendly meat alternatives that can work well in classic Asian dishes. The unprocessed young jackfruit is harvested in its early developmental stage and then optimized, using high technology, with natural flavors to achieve a fibrous texture resembling chicken or pulled pork. Its naturally stringy texture is ideal as a substitute for meat fillings in foods like dumplings. Karana’s young jackfruit is essentially high in fiber, potassium, and vitamins since it is minimally processed. Its product, which is packed in a glass jar, is available in the Singapore market and restaurants as a beta product. In terms of innovation, the company is presently trying to incorporate micro-encapsulating fat into the young jackfruit as it is struggling to distribute its retail products to the end customers. In September 2019, Karana was one of the five global startups selected to present at the Good Food Conference in San Francisco. It distinguished itself from other cell-based protein competitors, whose foods often contain a long list of ingredients and preservatives, with unprocessed plant ingredients plowed at a young age. High-end chefs prefer this approach as they demand top-notch food ingredients in their cooking, which only serves to build up Karana’s Copyright © 2021 Ravenry Pte. Ltd.
33 credibility in creating a successful niche as a whole food plant-based replacement food service. INSECT PROTEIN Asia Insect Farm Solutions Asia Insect Farm Solutions offers insects, for example cricket protein, for food and feed applications. Nutrition Technologies Nutrition Technologies uses unique, high-tech technology which combines bacteria and insects to upcycle nutrients from vegetable and grain by-products. Protenga Protenga use Smart Insect Farm™ system that makes insect innovation accessible to agricultural and food manufacturing by-products into fully traceable insect protein. Insectta Insectta is a pioneer in taking black soldier fly larvae that were considered as food waste into products for pets and animals, especially for the insectivore’s diet. They also produce biomaterial products. Insectta Taking the black soldier fly larvae and eggs, Insectta brings new products to feed the customer’s pets (such as dogs, cats, small mammals, poultry, songbirds, and insectivorous fish) and farming activity. The probiotic in Insectta products is deemed able to reduce the feed conversion ratio, improve animal gut health and immunity, thus increasing yield. They are the first insect urban farming in Singapore, that also produces biomaterials from black soldiers. The final products include dried and live larvae, organic fertilizer, and biomaterial such as chitosan, protein and probiotics for animals, and currently developing the organic semiconductor. VENTURE CAPITALS Big Idea Venture Venture capital and accelerator fund company which invest in top performers on food tech companies. VisVires New Protein Venture capital which is into “New Protein”, funding food and agriculture companies. Unovis Asset Management The global leader investor in alternative protein sector. Copyright © 2021 Ravenry Pte. Ltd.
34 Id Capital Investment and advisory company focused on entrepreneurs of future food. Grow Southeast Asia's first dedicated agrifood tech accelerator with an impact focus. K2 K2 focuses on investing in tech start-ups that can create new markets which are approaching old problems with groundbreaking solutions. Innovate 360 Singapore’s first food incubator which facilities recognized by the Asia Pacific Economic Corporation (APEC) as a food technology partner in food security, supported by Enterprise Singapore. Big Idea Venture Supporting the world’s best entrepreneurs, Big Idea Ventures is a venture capital and accelerator fund which invests in top performers. The venture capital invests in plant-based food/ingredients and cell-based meat producers. Based in Singapore and New York, it invests US$125,000 in cash and US$75,000 in services twice a year to support early-stage companies based in the Asia-Pacific. Aquaculture FARM OPERATORS Apollo Aquaculture Group AAG breeding and trading beautiful ornamental fish (AAG) sustainably, tandem with technological advances for sustainable fish keeping Barramundi Asia The largest companies in the world cultivate barramundi in the ocean and employ on world-class sustainable fish farming practices and aquaculture technology. Singapore Aquaculture Singapore Aquaculture Technology or SAT has 3,000 Technologies square metre floating fish farms that use cutting-edge technology to cultivate asian sea bass (aka barramundi) and red snapper. The Fish Farmer A fish farm operator which keep everything fresh by implement chill temperature from the beginning and store the product in -18 degrees celsius cold room Blue Aqua International One-stop solution provider for aquaculture industry in the Asia-Pacific region and the United States Copyright © 2021 Ravenry Pte. Ltd.
35 Blue Ocean Aquaculture First Indoor Aquaculture Farm in Singapore, named FIN – Technology (BOAT) Farmed Indoor with Nano-oxygen Apollo Aquaculture Group (AAG) Apollo Aquaculture Group is an ornamental fish company that supplies ornamental fish and products all over the world. Since its inception in 1972, the company has increased its capacity and capabilities in water treatment technologies and fish handling procedures. Over the years, it has transformed itself from a labor-intensive company to a technology-infused enterprise that takes advantage of modern technologies to improve productivity and quality. Its quarantine facility is equipped with an online electronic inventory system to manage stock at an optimum level and an AquaDeck® System, a fully automated, multi-tier, close aquaculture system, suitable for intensive production in a small space. The company has a quality assurance program to ensure the fish’s quality through biosecurity measures and a state-of-the-art recirculation system to increase the stocking density of the ornamental fish. With these systems, its experts can diagnose fish diseases with molecular tools in well-equipped laboratories, to keep diseases at bay, and conduct pre-export inspections on bagged fish. The company’s eight-story vertical fish farm will be able to produce up to 2,700 tons per year by 2023, accounting for about 5% of Singapore’s fish consumption. Barramundi Asia Barramundi Asia is one of the world’s biggest companies that farms barramundi using sustainable fish farming practices and aquaculture technology. The company concentrates on the full ‘farm-to-fork’ value chain, having its own RAS hatchery, nursery, and deep-sea cage ‘grow out’ farms in an active tidal environment. With over 4000 metric tons of biomass, the company also processes and retails its barramundi product brands, Kuhibarra and Cone Bay Barra, alongside its premium online sales portals. This year, Barramundi Asia bought the deep tech startup Allegro Aqua. Copyright © 2021 Ravenry Pte. Ltd.
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