The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) has published the Singapore Food Statistics (SgFS) 2024, an annual publication of Singapore’s food supply and food safety data over the past 3 years.
Key Highlights from 2022 to 2024
Diversifying Import Sources
2 Singapore is a small and open economy which imports more than 90% of our food supply. This leaves us vulnerable to supply chain disruptions in an increasingly volatile and challenging operating environment. To minimise the impact of such disruptions, diversification remains SFA’s core strategy to ensure food security by reducing our reliance on any single source. In 2024, Singapore has increased its food supply sources to 187 countries/regions, up from just 140 around two decades back.
3 Even as we diversify our food sources, food safety remains key. Accreditation at the source is required for the import of food items that carry higher food safety risks and animal diseases that could impact local public health and trade (e.g., livestock, meat and eggs). In 2024, SFA approved Portugal as a new source for pork, Brunei and Poland as new sources for beef, and Türkiye as a new source for poultry. SFA will continue to facilitate industry connections with commercial food suppliers through sourcing trips and work with the industry to strengthen their supply networks through the implementation of Business Continuity Plans.
Building Capability and Capacity for Local Production
4 Local production is part of our multi-pronged approach towards food security and complements our other strategies. It serves as a form of insurance and buffer by helping to mitigate the impact of overseas food supply disruptions. In 2024, hen shell eggs, vegetable, and seafood farms contributed around 34%, 3%, and 6%, of our total food consumption respectively.
5 Local production of hen shell eggs continued to grow, increasing by 13% in 2024 due to farm upgrades and improved operational efficiencies. Likewise, productivity of our egg farms has improved from 14.8 million pieces per hectare per year in 2023 to 16.7 million pieces per hectare per year in 2024. Despite a decline in production of vegetables of about 3%, the productivity has increased from 227.2 tonnes per hectare per year in 2023 to 231.4 tonnes per hectare per year in 2024. The increase in productivity for hen shell eggs and vegetable farms is evident that farms are growing more with less through the adoption of technology and innovative solutions. Partly due to the restructuring of a few fish farms in Singapore, production of seafood declined by 14% in 2024. Nevertheless, productivity of the sector increased slightly from 38.6 tonnes per hectare per year in 2023 to 40.7 tonnes per hectare per year in 2024.
6 SFA remains committed to supporting our farms to build capability and capacity for local production. For example, in 2024, SFA introduced plans for the National Broodstock Centre (NBC) and the Hatchery Development and Recognition Programme (HDRP) as part of the refreshed Singapore Aquaculture Plan (SAP). For vegetables, 2025 and 2026 will see the set-up and ramp up of a few large-scale indoor vertical farms. SFA continues to review the Agri-Food Cluster Transformation (ACT) Fund to better address our farmers’ diverse and emerging needs. SFA expanded the Farm-to-Table Recognition Programme (FTTRP) which has onboarded more than 100 food businesses to date, so that consumers have more avenues to support local farms by dining at these businesses. Consumers can also play an important role in strengthening food security by supporting local produce.
Ensuring Safe Food for All
7 There is no food security without food safety. SFA maintains a comprehensive farm-to-fork food safety system, using a science-based risk management approach aligned with international standards. This robust framework includes data-driven inspections and horizon scanning for early alerts on food safety incidents.
8 Pending the conclusion of one case still under investigation, the number of foodborne illness cases per 100,000 population in 2024 was 22.8. As more than half of the foodborne illness cases involved catered food, SFA stepped up efforts to carry out further targeted checks on food establishments supplying catered food. In addition, SFA engaged food industry associations to share key insights from these foodborne outbreaks and reminded food establishment operators on good food safety practices.
9 SgFS is available for download from SFA’s website at www.sfa.gov.sg/publications/sgfs.
