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JANUARY 2022 — The future of agri-tech is in upskilling. The industry needs a workforce that can support high-value jobs, and mid-career workers who are willing to pick up new skills might hold the answer to boosting growth.

Supporting Evolving Manpower Demands

By 2030, it is projected that about 4,700 new and redesigned agri-tech jobs will be created, a result of Singapore’s Green Plan and “30 by 30” goal.

RP’s Career Conversion Programme (CCP) for the Agri-tech Sector aims to meet this demand by closing the skills gap. Officially launched on 14 January 2022, the CCP targets mid-career jobseekers, equipping them with the necessary competencies to enter the industry. This allows companies to use an alternate path to fill roles in their organisation. 

A first of its kind for the agri-tech sector, this pilot programme is the result of a collaboration between RP, Workforce Singapore (WSG), and Singapore Food Agency (SFA).

Minister Dr Tan See Leng at Sustenir

Sustenir: A Success Story

The CCP’s potential in building a talent pipeline is evident from one of its early adopters — Sustenir Agriculture. 

Sustenir, Singapore’s first indoor vertical farm, hosted the CCP launch event at its premises. Guest-of-Honour Dr Tan See Leng, Minister for Manpower and Second Minister for Trade and Industry, was given a tour and interacted with staff who benefited from the programme. 

While these staff came from varied backgrounds and had no prior experience, they were able to enter the agri-tech sector after undergoing the CCP. They now play key roles in Sustenir’s business.

Learning From the Ground Up

The CCP supports mid-career workers, offering a comprehensive approach that trains the skills needed to enter agri-tech related professions.

A structured curriculum will be provided by RP, while on-the-job training will be provided by the employer. This approach enables companies to hire staff who have transferable skills, but not necessarily the required fundamentals. 

The CCP has been accepting applicants since November 2021, and is projected to benefit up to 100 individuals over two years, with the potential for future upscaling. 

Training a Resilient and Adaptable Workforce

RP’s contributions towards the CCP curriculum exemplify our long-standing and prominent presence in the agri-tech scene. In addition to industry support, RP also offers both hands-on and e-learning agriculture-related courses that facilitate skills and career upgrading. 

Our courses help shape a workforce that is well-versed in urban food production and possesses multi-disciplinary expertise. The new CCP has already shown promising results, with 15 companies having shown interest in hiring under the programme.

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