Comcrop is Singapore’s first, and only, commercial rooftop farm that harvests pesticide-free food. Rooftop farms are vital to land-scarce Singapore. These farms have been recognised by the Singapore Food Authority as one of the key strategies to reach Singapore’s 30 by 30 goal, where 20% of the country’s food needs will be domestically produced by 2030.
Earthlink NTU organised a virtual farm tour on 7 December 2021 for 23 participants, to create awareness among the student community on food sustainability issues in Singapore. The participants were given a virtual tour around Comcrop’s rooftop farm by Darren, Comcrop’s Head of Education and Community Outreach, who then led them in a sharing and discussion about Comcrop’s history and food sustainability issues.
During the virtual tour, participants were able to witness and understand the sanitisation procedures that workers undergo before entering the enclosed hydroponics farm. Sanitation procedures include stepping on a shoe disinfectant mat and putting on a hairnet to prevent contaminating the produce being grown.
Darren then walked the participants through the hydroponics set-ups and showed them the crops that were being grown, such as rosemary, basil, and mint. The experience proved an educational one, as the participants got to see the crops in different stages of growth up close and personal.
During the sharing and discussion of sustainability issues after the tour, participants gained a deeper insight into the issues that affect food sustainability. For instance, they learned about how the type of transport used to import or export food. contributes more to carbon emissions than how far the food is being transported, even if it is to a different country. Participants also learned how the perception of food is placed at a low value in the industry, which in turn creates a disruption of food security.
I liked the tour Darren gave, and his sharing on processes and sustainability was very informative. Tricia Lim, Participant
About EarthLink NTU
EarthLink is the largest student-led environmental club in NTU that promotes environmental protection and sustainability among students and residents.
The club has 10 dedicated portfolios that are constantly updating its objectives in order to address the ever-changing global climate. A few noteworthy large-scale activities and initiatives are its annual Overseas Community Engagement Programme (OCEP), EcoPromise, Earth Hour, Greenfest, and the most recently Get Woke.
It also organises events that fill up niche areas such as nature-guided walks, where a dedicated portfolio leads participants to various locations around Singapore and exposes them to the diverse flora and fauna existing within the nation.
