S1E71: How can we get Singapore consumers to buy locally farmed produce?

Nov 13, 2025

36:52

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Dig deeper into why Singapore's food sustainability targets have changed.

Synopsis: Join Natasha Ann Zachariah at The Usual Place every Thursday as she unpacks the latest current affairs with guests.

The original goal was for farms here to produce 30 per cent of the country’s nutritional needs, which include fish, eggs and vegetables. Now it's 20 per cent of Singapore's fibre and 30 per cent of protein needs by 2035.

Natasha speaks with Ken Cheong, chief executive of the Singapore Agro-Food Enterprises Federation and Ray Poh, founder of Artisan Green, an indoor farm that grows pesticide-free crops – about what measures are needed to help local farms grow and why egg farmers are doing well.

What will help every farm become a "good farm" and should we have CDC-type vouchers to get consumers to buy local produce?

Highlights (click/tap above):

1:31 Why was the initial goal so difficult to achieve?

4:37 Economies of scale lowers operational costs

7:55 Why transport is the biggest bugbear for local produce

21:56 Why local eggs are safe to be eaten half-boiled

28:52 Will CDC vouchers push more to buy local produce?

Follow The Usual Place podcast on IG: https://www.instagram.com/theusualplacepodcast

Follow Natasha on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/v6DN

Filmed by: Studio+65

Edited by: Teo Tong Kai and Chen Junyi

Executive producers: Danson Cheong, Elizabeth Khor & Ernest Luis