GPC to table motion to reduce food waste, strengthen food resilience through government and ground-up efforts

The Government Parliamentary Committee (GPC) on sustainability and the environment will table a motion calling for the Singapore government to enhance food resilience and reduce food waste through partnerships with all sectors of society. This motion, led by GPC chair Ms Poh Li San, four PAP politicians, aims to ensure Singapore's long-term food security amidst geopolitical uncertainties and climate-related risks. The motion will be debated during the upcoming parliament session, which begins on September 8.

The motion arises from rising food expenses due to external factors like shipping disruptions and climate events such as El Nino affecting crop yields. Singapore generated nearly 800,000 tonnes of food waste in 2025, with an average of 128kg per person annually. The GPC will ask the government to strengthen local food production capability, rethink food import policies, and improve the food redistribution ecosystem. They will also seek to track food loss and waste separately to develop appropriate solutions.

Ms Poh will discuss reducing food waste, while Ms Nadia will focus on making local food production more resilient. Ms Poh will call for government support for food charities to scale up, citing Food Bank, Food Rescue Sengkang, and Fridge Restock Community as examples. Ms Lee will talk about strengthening food supply chains, and Mr Ng on alternative proteins.

The GPC held public engagements in May and July to prepare for the motion, and Ms Poh mentioned Happy Lunch, a community meal initiative she started to distribute rescued food to needy residents.