Members of Republic Polytechnic's Board of Governors
Mr Yeo Li Pheow, Principal and CEO of RP
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen
Introduction
1. Good morning. It is my pleasure to join you today at the opening ceremony of Republic Polytechnic's (RP) Greenhouse.
2. First, I would like to congratulate RP on your 20th anniversary. I am very proud of how RP has established itself over the years as a credible polytechnic with unique niches and areas of strengths.
3. I have had the privilege of visiting RP regularly over the years, and have seen the development of many of RP's facilities. One facility I recall visiting was the Agricultural Technology Laboratory, which houses state of the art facilities for growing plants on vertical systems using artificial lighting and hydroponic based farming. Back then, RP shared their plans to develop the Greenhouse, which would feature a teaching and research facility dedicated to growing plants in naturally ventilated and climate-controlled conditions.
4. I am thus very happy to be here today to celebrate the launch of this exciting new facility in RP – the Greenhouse. The Greenhouse will be part of RP's Integrated Agriculture Hub (IAH), which facilitates training, research, and industry collaboration on technical solutions for modern age farming. Together, these facilities play an integral role in the development of RP's niche in Agricultural Technology, or Agritech, for short.
Supporting Singapore's Push for Food Security
5. At the national level, the development of RP's niche in Agritech is aligned with our push for greater food security. Under our "30 by 30" target, we aim to build up our agri-food industry's capability to produce 30% of our nutritional needs locally and sustainably by the year 2030. This is up from less than 10% when the target was announced in 2019.
6. As shared by Li Pheow earlier, Singapore depends heavily on imports for our food supplies, making us highly susceptible to global disruptions.
7. Disruptions to global food supply chains in recent months and years – arising from climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic, geopolitical tensions – are firm reminders that we cannot take food security for granted. Farms must leverage science, technology and innovation to grow our resilience against climate change, resource and economic constraints. There is now more urgency to ensure a supply of local produce to decrease our dependence on imports.
8. To work towards "30 by 30", we will need to create higher-value jobs in the industry. We need to go beyond the traditional methods of farming, and use technology to maximise our limited farming space. This requires new skillsets and talent in the sector. Singapore currently employs about 2,000 workers in the agri-food sector. By 2030, it is projected that about 4,700 new and redesigned jobs would be created, with about 70% of the jobs expected to be filled by skilled workers and Professional, Managers, Executives and Technicians (PMETs).
Building on RP's Niche in Agritech
9. This is where education institutions such as RP play an important role in attracting and developing talent in Agritech. Over the years, RP has solidified its position as a key higher education partner in the Agritech space, offering a range of programmes such as the Diploma in Applied Science in Urban Agricultural Technology, the Specialist Diploma in Agritechnology and Agribusiness, and the Career Conversion Programme for Agritech Specialists. In 2021, RP trained over 50 graduates in Agritech across their programmes, and expects to continue training over 300 graduates in the next few years.
10. These programmes have provided students with both the knowledge and practical skills to kickstart their career in Agritech. Investing in facilities such as the Greenhouse will provide generations of students with hands-on opportunities to deepen their learning experiences and discover their interests.
11. Nur Fitrah Nabillah Binte Fasal Khan is one such student. Growing up, Fitrah was surrounded by flowers and plants, and developed an interest in agriculture. This prompted her to explore her interests further by enrolling in the Diploma in Applied Science in Urban Agricultural Technology. Through the programme, Fitrah is able to learn about the latest industry practices in sustainable farming and Agritech, and translate this into her work as an Agritech technician in Liteleaf, a local farming company. Fitrah is now confident that she is able to carve a successful career for herself in this industry, and aspires to open her own urban farm in the future.
12. The Greenhouse comes at an important time. The Greenhouse will allow RP students and staff to conduct new and exciting research and work on projects in agriculture and plant science, such as developing space-efficient and environmentally sustainable farming practices. These experiences will expose and encourage the next generation of Singaporeans to the opportunities availed by the technological transformations taking place in the agri-food sector.
Remaining Connected to Industry
13. Beyond good training facilities, it is important that students are exposed to industry developments and trends.
14. Maintaining strong connections with industry ensures that RP is up to date with the latest industry trends, and allows students to translate research into industry solutions. I am glad to see the Greenhouse continue RP's tradition of close collaboration with industry, with its industry-standard cultivation systems, and plans for collaborative research and consultancy projects with industry partners.
15. I would like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation to RP's industry partners, many of whom are here today, for the strong support you have given to RP students and staff.
16. Let me share an example of how RP works with an industry partner to explore technological innovations in agriculture. RP's trainers, Dr Ritu Bhalla, Ms Wu Hui-Wen and Mr Lim Wei Han are working with Cuprina Pollination Services to use blowflies to increase pollination efficiency in strawberry plants. The goal is to control the release of pollination, and improve the crop quality and yield. This solution extends beyond just strawberries, and will benefit indoor farms with various fruiting crops, such as blueberries and melons. I understand that the project has recently commenced in July, and wish the team all the best in your research!
Conclusion
17. I look forward to the continued innovations and contributions that RP will make in the Agritech space through the Greenhouse. The new facility will enhance teaching and learning, and help ensure that RP students continue to be future-ready.
18. Once again, congratulations to RP on the opening of the Greenhouse! It is yet another milestone on your 20-year journey, and I look forward to RP's continued development in the coming years. Thank you.