06 July 2023
- RSIS
- Publication
- External Publications
- Impact of COVID-19 on Singapore’s Rice Supplies
Impact of COVID-19 on Singapore’s Rice Supplies
Abstract
This chapter presents policy insights for Singapore’s food security in the face of COVID-19, learning from its experience in its rice sector. It is divided into three sections. The first section describes the policy context for food security in Singapore prior to COVID-19, describing the evolution of Singapore’s approaches, including the investments in domestic production after the Global Food Price Crisis of 2007-08; the development of its Food Security Roadmap in 2013; the restructuring of its food authority, the Agri-Veterinary Authority and its transformation into the Singapore Food Authority announced in 2018; and the launching in 2019 of the “30-by-30” target of 30 per cent food self-sufficiency by 2030. Across these transitions, Singapore has forgone attempts to boost domestic production and stayed the course of import reliance for rice, by focusing on diversifying foreign sources for rice, as well as other commodities. The second section discusses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Singapore’s food security, with a focus on its impacts on rice supplies and rice prices. While Singapore has been resilient in drawing sufficient quantities of rice from alternative sources during disruptions, this comes at such imports come at higher rice prices. The third section concludes with policy implications. It argues that the challenges faced in the rice sector, wherein Singapore is completely reliant on imports, are reflective of the challenges Singapore is likely to face in the case of the other food items which Singapore cannot produce, and which augur poorly for future food security in the city-state. This applies in particular to the 70 per cent of food supplies which Singapore still envisions it would need to import by 2030, assuming the success of Singapore’s new “30-by-30” goal.
Abstract
This chapter presents policy insights for Singapore’s food security in the face of COVID-19, learning from its experience in its rice sector. It is divided into three sections. The first section describes the policy context for food security in Singapore prior to COVID-19, describing the evolution of Singapore’s approaches, including the investments in domestic production after the Global Food Price Crisis of 2007-08; the development of its Food Security Roadmap in 2013; the restructuring of its food authority, the Agri-Veterinary Authority and its transformation into the Singapore Food Authority announced in 2018; and the launching in 2019 of the “30-by-30” target of 30 per cent food self-sufficiency by 2030. Across these transitions, Singapore has forgone attempts to boost domestic production and stayed the course of import reliance for rice, by focusing on diversifying foreign sources for rice, as well as other commodities. The second section discusses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Singapore’s food security, with a focus on its impacts on rice supplies and rice prices. While Singapore has been resilient in drawing sufficient quantities of rice from alternative sources during disruptions, this comes at such imports come at higher rice prices. The third section concludes with policy implications. It argues that the challenges faced in the rice sector, wherein Singapore is completely reliant on imports, are reflective of the challenges Singapore is likely to face in the case of the other food items which Singapore cannot produce, and which augur poorly for future food security in the city-state. This applies in particular to the 70 per cent of food supplies which Singapore still envisions it would need to import by 2030, assuming the success of Singapore’s new “30-by-30” goal.
