The '30 by 30' event was held yesterday in Singapore, a milestone for the country, which aims to achieve food self-sufficiency by 2030. The goal of the initiative is ambitious: to produce 30% of the food needs of the city-state, which is currently 90% dependent on imports, locally. The event was attended by key figures such as Giorgio Maria Rosica, delegate of the Italian Academy of Cuisine for Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia, the Italian Ambassador to Singapore and Brunei, Dante Brandi, and Professor Zhou Weibiao, Head of the Department of Food Science and Technology at the National University of Singapore (Nus). All agreed on the crucial importance of advanced agricultural technologies and international collaborations to address this strategic challenge.
The '30 by 30' challenge is one of Singapore's responses to growing global food security concerns. The city-state, with limited agricultural resources, has invested significantly in innovative technologies such as vertical farming, alternative protein production and the use of artificial intelligence and robotics for urban farming. These developments aim to ensure greater food resilience, reducing Singapore's vulnerability to disruptions in supply chains and the effects of climate change.
During the event, Ambassador Brandi emphasised Italy's leading role in agricultural research, mentioning the legacy left by Expo 2015 in Milan, whose theme was 'Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life'. He also highlighted Italy's ongoing commitment to sustainable solutions, in particular through the creation of the Agritech Centre in Naples, a research centre of excellence funded with 300 million euros. This centre will be the hub of Italian agritech innovation, focusing on sustainable agriculture, green technologies and innovative food. Through this initiative, Italy aims to develop solutions to feed a growing global population and play a central role in the evolution of global agriculture.
Professor Zhou explained that achieving the '30 by 30' goal requires the development of cutting-edge technologies and, above all, the support of international partners such as Italy. Italy's long agricultural tradition, combined with its advanced technological capabilities, can make a significant contribution to Singapore. A concrete example of this collaboration is the synergy with the Emilia Romagna Markets Network, which represents a state-of-the-art model in fresh produce management and distribution. The Network can share its know-how not only to optimise food logistics, but also to digitise the sector, helping Singapore to create more efficient distribution networks and guarantee the quality and freshness of local products, crucial elements for the success of the '30 by 30'.
Italy, with its centuries-old agricultural tradition and commitment to innovation, is an ideal partner to help Singapore realise its food goals. Initiatives such as the '30 by 30' not only strengthen local food security, but also represent a step towards a more globally sustainable future, demonstrating the importance of international collaboration to meet the challenges of the 21st century.
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