Singapore Agro-Food Enterprises Federation (SAFEF) SG60 Local Produce Appreciation Dinner - Mr Zaqy Mohamad

1 Good evening, everyone. It is my pleasure to join all of you tonight at this meaningful gathering organised by SAFEF to celebrate local produce.

2 I look forward to meeting and connecting with the many community partners who have supported SAFEF’s SG60 Local Produce campaign over a specially curated dinner featuring local produce prepared by co-host, Coriander Leaf. 

3 Singapore is a small island with limited resources. We import over 90% of our food. This means that we are vulnerable to global food supply disruptions and uncertainties, which can be caused by geopolitical developments, and the impacts of climate change. To minimise the impact of global disruptions on our food supply, diversifying our import sources is our core strategy to ensure food security and to reduce our reliance on a single country or region. Today, we import from 187 countries and regions, which is an increase from just 140 around two decades ago. 

4 However, diversification alone is not enough. Strengthening our food resilience requires a multi-pronged approach, and local production is crucial. Local production serves as both an insurance and buffer against overseas supply disruptions. Strong local production is a shared responsibility by the Government, businesses and retailers, and consumers.

5 On the Government’s part, we have implemented various initiatives to support and nurture our local agri-food sector. At the Committee of Supply earlier this year, we enhanced the Agri-Food Cluster Transformation (ACT) Fund to provide more comprehensive support for our farms. We introduced a series of SG Fresh Produce logos on food packaging in February 2022 to help consumers easily identify and purchase local produce. The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) has a Farm-to-Table Recognition Programme (FTTRP) recognising Hotel, Restaurant and Catering (HoReCa) businesses that champion local farm produce in their dishes.  Coriander Leaf, for example, has been awarded the highest tier of the FTTRP.

6 Alongside the Government, stakeholders including SAFEF play an equally important role in driving demand for local produce. Since its formation, SAFEF has been a driving force in transforming our local agri-food sector, and spearheaded various initiatives aimed at enhancing and strengthening local production. A major outcome of the Alliance for Action (AfA) on Local Produce Demand Offtake and Consumer Education in 2023 was an industry-level supply-and-demand aggregator led by SAFEF, where it partnered traders and food processing companies through longer-term commercial aggregator contractors to better match supply and demand.

7 SAFEF also organises the SG Farmers’ Market to connect consumers directly with our local farmers, and promote fresh, locally grown and farmed produce. One of SAFEF’s recent initiatives is the SG Local Produce campaign that was launched earlier in April to celebrate SG60 by promoting our local farms and homegrown produce. More than 80 community partners, including schools and Active Ageing Centres, took part in this meaningful campaign where they created dishes using local produce. 

8 As businesses and retailers, your support is also essential in strengthening local production. As we continue to grow and strengthen our agri-food sector, fostering new partnerships with businesses and retailers will be key. These collaborations and partnerships allow for us to share expertise and drive further innovation and new ideas to build a more resilient agri-food ecosystem. 

9 I would like to thank Coriander Leaf for partnering with SAFEF to feature The Straits Fish as a permanent item on its menu at this restaurant over the next few months. Today, SAFEF will also be signing four MOUs with Coriander Leaf, Merchant Brothers, Pan Ocean Singapore, and Joy of Fish. These partnerships mark a continued commitment to promoting local produce and supporting local produce offtake. 

10 As consumers, we too can make a difference by supporting and choosing local produce whenever we shop. Local produce offers several advantages. It is fresher, lasts longer and contributes to a lower carbon footprint as it takes less transport miles to reach our plates. By choosing local produce, we are supporting our farms and doing our part to contribute to Singapore’s food security. When dining out, consumers can also look out for the FTTRP decal and wobblers displayed at these establishments or visit SFA’s website for the full list of FTTRP establishments. Every meal at these establishments supports our local farmers and strengthens Singapore’s food security. 

11 For our local agriculture to thrive, we require the support from everyone – from Government agencies, farms, food suppliers, corporates, and individuals – to come together and champion local produce. We can all play our part by choosing local produce the next time we shop at supermarket chains and grocery stores by looking out for the red and white SG Fresh Produce logo. By doing so, we support our farmers and work towards becoming a more self-sufficient nation. Thank you once again for everyone’s support and I hope all of you enjoy tonight’s dinner.