Driving Research & Development (R&D) and innovation partnerships across the urban agriculture value chain.
The Urban Agriculture Centre of Innovation (UACOI) was officially launched in October 2022. Supported by Enterprise Singapore, UACOI aims to drive Research & Development (R&D) and innovation partnerships across the urban agriculture value chain. It will also support the build-up of innovation capabilities for small and medium-sized enterprises in this sector. The Centre is led by Republic Polytechnic’s AGRI Centre and supported by Temasek Polytechnic’s CROPS Centre. It will focus on key areas of innovation and R&D commercialisation efforts as follows:
To support the deployment of pest management practices and support companies' disease control and management
To develop and support the development of sustainable crop health products
To identify and select crop varieties yielding desirable traits (such as longer shelf life, higher yield, pest resistance, and superior nutrient profile) in an urban farming environment
To provide expertise in optimising environmental parameters and nutrient recipes to enhance crop growth, including for novel crops
To identify and support the deployment of scalable, affordable and reliable automation solutions for farms
To support IOT-enabled data analytics that combines plant science R&D to optimise crop yield and quality
To identify and support the deployment of cost-effective energy solutions
The latest Agrifood Research and Innovation Showcase, which was successfully concluded on 4 April 2025, has brought together farming practitioners, energy resource experts, and government agencies under the theme “Harvesting Efficiency: Sustainable Energy Practices for Urban Farms.”
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Agriculture Research and Innovation (AGRI) Centre has successfully led the organising of the 5th Singapore-Shizuoka Agri-Food Forum on 22 November 2024 which was hosted by Republic Polytechnic. This year, the event was held in Singapore and graced by the presence of Mr Hiroshi Masui, Vice Governor of Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, who led a delegation of Japanese government, academia and agritech companies.
The Urban Agriculture Centre of Innovation (UACOI) participated in the Agri-Food Tech Expo Asia (AFTEA) 2024, showcasing advanced agricultural technologies and sustainable practices. Highlights included presentations by Dr. Deivanai and Dr. Kadamb at the Sandbox. The event fostered dynamic discussions on emerging trends and practical solutions in agriculture.
A BEIX & ARIS joint event, themed "Biochar Breakthroughs: Transforming Construction and Urban Agriculture," featured a series of insightful presentations on the innovative uses of biochar in both the built environment and agricultural sectors. Presented topics included sustainable construction materials, soil enhancement techniques, and the role of biochar in carbon sequestration. The event also provided participants with valuable networking opportunities, fostering new ideas and potential collaborations.
UACOI organised our 4th ARIS with the theme of “Harvesting a Golden Basket – Strategies to Cultivating Superior Crops." In this event, experts from various sectors shared both the supply and market/consumer preference for fresh produces, as well as the technologies and advancement in superior crop breeding.
Our third ARIS themed “Agritech Innovation for Smart Farm Operation” was enriched with thought-provoking presentations on topics such as market-driven R&D in smart farming, innovative methods for plant health surveillance and enhancement, and the approaches and roles of IoT, data analytics, and AI applications in urban farms to address their key challenges. The event facilitated networking and collaboration opportunities for our participants.
In collaboration with SFA and USSIEO, UACOI co-hosted a workshop designed to foster discussions among agri-ecosystem players - farms, startups, solution providers, research performers and agencies to address challenges in farm resource consumption in Singapore.
UACOI organised our 2nd ARIS, themed "Biowaste Management in the Agri-food Sector", featuring expert insights on biowaste management and valorisation, and fostering opportunities for exploration, collaboration and networking for all attendees.
During UACOI's exhibition at the 2023 Agri-Food Tech Expo Asia, we engaged in insightful discussions and idea sharing with our technology partners in the agri-tech and agri-food sectors.
The annual forum facilitated collaborations in urban agriculture R&D, expansion of local agri-tech SMEs, and staff-student exchange between the two regions.
UACOI launched our inaugural ARIS, where the guest of honours, organisations and partners shared their valuable insights and goals for Singapore’s urban agriculture sector.
Companies seeking such support can tap into the expertise offered by the AGRI Centre and CROPS.Partner us