WWW.WAS.ORG • WORLD AQUACULTURE • MARCH 2026 77 deterioration, even with stronger monitoring. Market competition from lower-priced imports adds further pressure. Singapore’s response has been systematic and capabilitydriven. Investment in R&D and technology adoption helps alleviate manpower constraints, raise productivity, and enable earlier detection and mitigation of emerging risks. Securing key inputs such as reliable seedstock supply is another strategic priority. The response extends beyond production to market development. Stronger industry coordination and demand-shaping efforts have emerged through retailer partnerships and collective branding. Industry associations, such as the Singapore Agro-Food Enterprises Federation (SAFEF), play a convening role, representing farmer interests and supporting market-access initiatives. Retailers such as NTUC Fairprice, Singapore’s largest supermarket chain, have launched aggregated local-produce initiatives featuring brands such as “SG Farmers’ Market” and “The Straits Fish”, raising visibility and consumer recognition of locally produced fresh products. In parallel, R&D further supports value differentiation, including improvements in nutritional profiles (such as higher omega-3 content), organoleptic quality, and stronger traceability — attributes that are increasingly valued by consumers (Figure 8). Future Outlook As Singapore prepares to host World Aquaculture Singapore 2026, its aquaculture sector is entering a new phase. The sector will not be a volume producer, but it offers valuable insights into farming tropical marine species under conditions of land, labour, and energy constraint. As climate disruption intensifies and production systems face growing environmental and operational pressures, Singapore’s experience underscores how food supply resilience can be built through intentional design, strong partnerships, and steady execution — not solely through space and scale. Through continued investment in R&D, technology deployment, and close collaboration between industry, government, and research entities, Singapore has the potential to emerge as a leading regional hub for tropical marine aquaculture technology, strengthening food resilience while generating new commercial opportunities as capabilities continue to advance. Notes Mark Richards,* is Programme Director of the AquaPolis Programme Office, and Sharley Goi is Programme Manager. Junhui Jiang is Director, Aquaculture Technology Department, Singapore Food Agency; Executive Director, AquaPolis; and Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore. Rui Goncalves is Deputy Director, Aquaculture Technology Department, Singapore Food Agency. Melvin Chow is Senior Director, Agrifood Technology Division, Singapore Food Agency. * Corresponding author: markr@nus.edu.sg References Singapore Food Agency (SFA). (2024). Singapore Aquaculture Plan. https://www.sfa.gov.sg/docs/default-source/singapore-aquacultureplan/singapore-aquaculture-plan.pdf Tan C. (2024, July 19). Scientists in Singapore develop new vaccine for fatal disease in Asian sea bass. The Straits Times. https://www. straitstimes.com/singapore/scientists-in-singapore-develop-newvaccine-for-fatal-disease-in-asian-sea-bass Wang, Q., and He, J. (2020). Complete nitrogen removal via simultaneous nitrification and denitrification by a novel phosphate accumulating Thauera sp. strain SND5. Water Research, 185, 116300. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2020.116300 FIGURE 6. (Top and bottom) Advanced microbial bioreactor systems for improved nitrogen removal in recirculating aquaculture systems. FIGURE 7. AquaPolis workshop (3–4 October 2023) engaging local Asian seabass producers to surface key challenges and define research priorities together with local researchers for production optimisation. FIGURE 8. Locally produced seafood and vegetables featured under the “SG Farmers’ Market”. Photo credit: SAFEF.
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