Harnessing NUS R&D to strengthen Singapore's food security and build resilience
Achieving national food security is a critical challenge for Singapore. Boosting local food production stands as an important pillar of the nation’s strategy to enhance resilience and meet self-sufficiency goals. To directly support this crucial effort, NUS researchers are deploying deep capabilities in areas such as biological sciences and advanced food technologies to help build a self-sustaining food supply for the nation.
Speaking at the 4th Global Agri-Food Scientific Symposium held on 5 November 2025 as part of the Singapore International Agri-Food Week (SIAW), Mr Zaqy Mohamad, Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment, underscored the strategic importance of science and technology in food resilience.
“Singapore imports more than 90 per cent of our food, leaving us vulnerable to external shocks and supply disruptions. Given this reality, we must ensure a reliable supply of safe food for Singapore,” he said, noting that Singapore tackles food security through a comprehensive, multi-pronged strategy that integrates diversifying import sources, boosting local production, strategic stockpiling, and leveraging global partnerships.
Mr Zaqy added, “As a small country with limited space and resources, the challenge for local food production is in the productivity and costs of local food production. Hence, to enable the industry to be more productive and market competitive, Singapore needs to harness science and technology to develop cutting-edge solutions.”
During SIAW, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) announced S$82.5 million in funding to bolster local food research, with NUS researchers leading a significant portion of the awarded projects.
Accelerating innovation in future foods and food safety
On 4 November 2025, SFA announced S$42 million in funding to support 11 future foods and food safety-related projects. Researchers from NUS are leading five of these projects and are contributing to three other projects as collaborators. These projects focus on two critical areas: seeking innovative solutions to boost the nutrition and functionality of alternative protein products, and supporting the development of novel animal-free methods for toxicology testing of new food products.
Future foods and food safety research projects led by NUS:
DIGEST: Developing Innovative Gastrointestinal Efficiency and Smart Technologies
Enhancing the Flavour, Nutritional and Functional Properties of Microalgae Biomass/Proteins for Scaled-Up Food Applications
A Robust Human Liver-Heart Microphysiological System for Safety Assessment of Cultivated Cells
Evaluating the Allergenicity and Immunotoxicity of Precision Fermentation Proteins by Investigating Covalent Modifications and Advancing NAMs for Risk Assessment
NextGen toxicokinetic and safety platform for the evaluation of small-molecule additives in cultivated meat
NUS researchers are contributing their expertise to the following projects:
Alternative Lipids: Precision fermentation-based production of Omega-3 PUFA-enriched phospholipids for Alternative Proteins
DiPLOTOX: Developing an integrated human iPSC-derived Liver Organoid and gut-on-a-chip platform for safety assessment of food TOXicants
Developmental neurotoxicity assessment platform for evaluation of food safety risks posed by contaminants from cell-based and fermented derived foods
SFA also awarded additional funding to the Centre for Precision Fermentation and Sustainability (PreFerS) to develop efficient and sustainable production of high-value ingredients, such as healthy lipids and functional proteins. PreFerS was jointly established in 2024 by NUS and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, with support from the National Research Foundation Campus for Research Excellence and Technological Enterprise (CREATE).
Boosting seed innovation and aquaculture research
Separately, SFA announced on 5 November 2025 a commitment of S$40.5 million to boost seed innovation and aquaculture, and to accelerate productivity gains and cost reductions for local farms. The funding was awarded to two significant NUS-led programmes — the Seed Innovation Hub (SIH) and AquaPolis R&D Programme — which aim to deliver scalable, cost-effective production methods and establish a more vibrant agri-food ecosystem.
SIH has been awarded S$22 million to advance Singapore’s breeding strategies and develop higher quality seeds with enhanced traits such as improved growth, yield, and nutritional value, specifically tailored for tropical climates and controlled environment agriculture. NUS scientists, who will be working closely with local institutions and industry partners, will expand beyond traditional crops like Choy Sum and Kale to include higher-value fruited crops such as capsicum, brinjal, and cucumber, as well as speciality greens such as arugula and amaranth.
The AquaPolis R&D Programme — co-led by NUS and Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory — has received a funding of S$18.5 million to lower production costs and improve the quality and nutritional value of locally produced Asian seabass through a holistic approach that incorporates breeding, nutrition, disease management, and advanced feeding strategies. The Programme will leverage multidisciplinary expertise from eight major research institutions and 19 key industry collaborators to drive innovation in Singapore’s aquaculture ecosystem.
Translating agri-food research into real-world impact
Working closely with local and international partners — including research institutes, government agencies, and industry leaders — NUS aims to translate high-impact research into real-world applications. This effort will deliver practical, scalable solutions for farmers, producers, and consumers in Singapore and beyond.
