{
  "id": 6531367,
  "title": "'Are we cutting ourselves too thin?': MP Poh Li San on S'pore producing less than 10% of its food",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/09/are-we-cutting-ourselves-too-thin-mp-poh-li-san-on-spore-producing",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-09T17:58:52.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Mothership",
    "slug": "mothership",
    "url": "https://mothership.sg/2026/09/poh-li-san-singapore-food-self-sufficiency/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Singapore is currently producing less than 10% of the food consumed by its six million residents, according to Member of Parliament (MP) Poh Li San. The MP questioned whether the nation is cutting itself too thin with this low rate of food self-sufficiency. Along with three other MPs, Poh introduced a motion on food security, urging the government to support efforts to reduce food waste and ensure affordable food supply amidst geopolitical risks and climate-related uncertainties.\n\nFood waste contributes to higher prices, as an average of 790,000 tonnes of food (128kg per capita) is thrown away annually. Only around 18% of food waste is recycled. Poh pointed out that this waste leads to wasted resources for transportation and incineration, driving up food prices. Singaporeans are growing concerned about rising food costs, and the MP believes that community development council vouchers will not be enough to mitigate long-term price increases.\n\nShe emphasized the importance of producing more food locally, reducing waste, and maintaining affordable food prices. Poh called for the government to review policies and increase support for local food production, aiming to raise the self-sufficiency rate to at least 30%. To achieve this target, she suggested considering local food production capability as a strategic buffer and part of Singapore's total defence security.\n\nJust as significant investments have been made in military defence, Poh proposed increasing the national budget to bolster local food production capabilities. The government should also help farmers mitigate high production costs by providing land, manpower, and utility support. Additionally, the MP suggested creating a more circular food ecosystem by facilitating food donation and supporting local start-ups that offer innovative solutions, such as selling discounted cooked food and turning food scraps into fish feed. Poh urged the government to provide grants and tax rebates to these start-ups and food charity groups, which currently rescue about 2,400 tonnes of food annually from incineration plants.",
  "summary": "She called for the government to increase support for local food production and raise the self-sufficiency rate to at least 30 per cent.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}