Forum: Great loss if community farm were to close

I was disappointed to read that social enterprise and community urban farm Edible Garden City (EGC) is facing challenges finding a feasible new home (Community farm Edible Garden City to leave Queenstown in June, pondering next steps, March 22).

Given that Singapore is striving to be as self-sufficient as possible in food resilience and production, EGC is doing a good job of helping to meet those goals.

It is also providing jobs for special needs Singaporeans, attracting tourists, contributing to public education on urban farming, and providing “farm-to-table” fresh local produce to families and restaurants.

EGC’s head honcho Bjorn Low was even honoured as a Leader of the Year in last year’s Sustainability Impact Awards, presented by The Business Times and UOB.

For EGC to have come so far and achieved so much is no mean feat. It would be a great loss if EGC were to close. Perhaps the Singapore Land Authority and EGC could meet halfway and come to a compromise, such as having EGC switch to growing more commonly eaten produce in return for an extension of lease?

EGC has become a much-admired name and Singapore brand, successfully pioneering urban farming in land-scarce Singapore.

I hope the authorities can give EGC the support it deserves to continue growing and providing fresh local produce and championing urban farming to support Singapore’s food resilience goals.

Woon Wee Min