Join us at The Food Hotel Asia 2022 in Singapore from September 05 – 08, 2022

Are you looking for premium quality leafy greens that are fresh and nutritious and grown locally using Dutch technologies? Do you want to turn growing cities into thriving farms? And do you want to know more about our total solutions for indoor urban farms? Then join us at The Food Hotel Asia 2022 in Singapore from September 05 – 08, 2022. You can find us in the lounge area of the Netherlands pavilion.

Food Hotel Asia (FHA) 2022 is one of Asia’s largest food & drinks trade event held in Singapore. To promote Dutch expertise and amplify their presence in Singapore (and other countries in the region), the Netherlands embassy in Singapore, together with the Export Partner / NEC , organized a Netherlands pavilion with lounge areas that will be centered around Farming the Future; a global campaign showcasing the innovative power of the Dutch agri-food, horticulture and fisheries sectors.

On Monday, 5th September, the Netherlands embassy in Singapore will organize a networking reception. For more info about this event, please send your email to:  SIN-LNV@minbuza.nl

To register online in advance please go to Register FHA 2022

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Urban Farming Partners Singapore (UFPSG) announces soft opening of GroGrace facility – the first indoor farm to deploy 100% patented Dutch Horticulture technologies in the region

From left: Mr Ahmed Aboutaleb, Mayor of Rotterdam, The Kingdom of the Netherlands, Grace Lim, Co-Founder and CEO of UFPSG, Dr Amy Khor, Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment and H.E. Margriet Vonno, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Singapore were at the soft opening of UFPSG’s GroGrace on 3rd of August. Copyright: Urban Farming Partners Singapore

SINGAPORE – 3 August 2022 – Urban Farming Partners (UFP) soft opened their first operational indoor farm – GroGrace today. Located in an industrial park in Penjuru, Jurong, the 650 sqm facility is soft opened by Guest of Honour, Dr Amy Khor, Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment, as well as Esteemed Guests H.E. Margriet Vonno, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Singapore, and Mr Ahmed Aboutaleb, Mayor of Rotterdam, The Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Acting as Urban Farming Partners Singapore’s (UFPSG) first vertical indoor farm and R&D centre, GroGrace signals to the local government, as well as domestic and international investors, the impactful potential of urban, indoor farming technologies to reduce Singapore’s dependence on imported produce. The GroGrace Facility is unique in the world because it is the only indoor farm where multiple layers of dry hydroponics systems are used. It is also the first vertical indoor facility farm that utilises a growing space with an aspect ratio exceeding 40% which greatly benefits air circulation and uniformity of climate. This prevents stresses to the plants and provides the flexibility to grow taller crops like leeks.

Originating from public-private partnership and part of the programme ‘Partners for International Business’, the UFPSG partnership includes the Netherlands Enterprise Agency, a government agency with access to a global network of embassies, such as the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Singapore, and private partners Priva, Orange Climate, Signify, Dry Hydroponics, KE GrowAir, Kenlog, KuiperCompagnons, and Walraven. Together with the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) and local company Bambull, UFPSG aims to promote urban farming in Singapore.

This collaboration between Singapore and the Netherlands is born out of both countries being fuelled by a need for survival and self-sustenance, rather than developing innovative technologies for vanity’s sake. Additionally, the collaboration between Singaporean and Dutch entrepreneurs embodies the continued spirit of a healthy exchange of knowledge between nations for mutual benefit, especially regarding the globalised issue of food security.

UFPSG’s mission is to be a total solutions, turn-key provider for indoor urban farms, integrating proven and patented Dutch technologies that are more sustainable alternatives to traditional horticulture. UFPSG’s vision is to build cities’ food resilience by enabling high quality vegetables from sustainable growing technologies.

GroGrace is UFPSG’s fruit of labour, with funding support by the SFA under the Agriculture Productivity Fund (APF) enabling the urban farming initiative to take the next steps toward strengthening Singapore’s food supply chain and paving the way to food security.

The 650 sqm facility consists of four 180 sqm growing floors, the top three of which will be used to grow leafy greens and herbs, while the bottom floor will be used for ongoing R&D for the growth of other kinds of produce. The current setup is expected to yield 33 tonnes of produce annually. Additionally, a key function of the GroGrace facility is to serve as a training centre for future upscaled Urban Farming Partners facilities utilising patented Dutch horticultural technologies.

GroGrace’s vertical design is scalable, and can be easily assembled, making it a great solution for a highly urbanised country like Singapore. The implementation of such facilities throughout Singapore can significantly contribute to Singapore’s ‘30 by 30′ goal to build the capability and capacity to produce 30% of our nutritional needs locally and sustainably by 2030.

Mr Darren Ho (left), head grower of UFPSG explaining to Dr Amy Khor the growth process of UFPSG’s crops. Copyright: Urban Farming Partners Singapore

At the opening ceremony, H.E. Margriet Vonno, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Singapore commented on the display of the Netherlands’ relationship with Singapore, as well as the Netherlands’ motivations for international collaboration in general.

“UFP is a showcase example of our excellent relationship with Singapore, and the embodiment of the Netherlands international positioning strategy which quotes: “Solving global challenges together.”, said H.E. Margriet Vonno, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Singapore.

Mr Ahmed Aboutaleb, Mayor of Rotterdam, expressed his excitement at the possibilities that Dutch horticulture technologies can bring forth to Singapore.

“Pressing issues such as climate change, geopolitics and the Covid-19 pandemic have shown the importance of robust local food systems. Vertical farming is a game changing initiative in this regard. With the presence of high-level research, companies and universities, the Rotterdam region is one of the most important clusters for modernized farming concepts and horticulture in the world. However, we cannot tackle the diverse issues of food security individually. We are glad to share our knowledge in urban farming with a similarly land scarce region, and welcome the exchange of ideas to promote food sustainability. The GoGrace facility is an important step in the right direction”.

Co-Founder and CEO of UFPSG, Grace Lim, shared her personal connection to the issues of sustainability and food security,

“My keen interest in sustainable farming has prompted me to grow vegetables in my own garden 6 years ago. Ever since, I have been driven to establish the first facility in Singapore utilising 100% Dutch horticulture technologies, as I believe in the Dutch’s vision of feeding the world by turning growing cities into thriving farms. GroGrace makes it evident that vertical urban farming is feasible and scalable in Singapore and the region. I am certain that this facility, as well as this collaborative exchange of ideas with our Dutch partners, will serve as the springboard for further innovation in Singaporean agritech, as well as Singapore’s progression towards a more self-sustaining nation.

GroGrace is the first indoor farm to deploy 100% patented Dutch Horticulture technologies in the region. Copyright: Urban Farming Partners Singapore

Interview opportunities with Grace Lim, CEO of UFPSG are available. Please contact us at sean@splash.sg if you are interested.

Connect with us on our platforms for more updates:

Urban Farming Partners Singapore – Website | LinkedIn | Instagram

 

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URBANFARMINGPARTNERS HOLDING B.V. (UFPH) AND EXECUTIVE CAPITAL GROUP (ECG) WILL TEAM UP

URBANFARMINGPARTNERS HOLDING B.V. (UFPH) WILL TEAM UP WITH EXECUTIVE CAPITAL GROUP (ECG) AS THE NEW INVESTOR IN THE STARTUP. THIS WILL PROPEL THE COMPANY FROM A START-UP PHASE TO A GROWTH PHASE BY PROVIDING THE RESOURCES TO DEVELOP SUBSTANTIAL VERTICAL FARMS IN SINGAPORE AND THE REGION IN THE NEXT 3 YEARS.

With UFPH entering into a new phase of business, we require new expertise in the board of UFP, since there is a shift from concept development to strategic management. Therefore, Wouter Vos will step down from the UFP-board and Peter Kleijwegt, one of the founders of ECG, will join the board.

In the last 5 years, Wouter co-founded UFPH and subsequently Urban Farming Partners Singapore Private Limited (UFPSG) with his partners. He spearheaded UFPSG to obtain funding from Singapore Food Agency and co-guided the company from concept development to the construction of a state-of-the-art and unique vertical farm. This resulted in a scalable indoor farm design and the final realisation of the Proof of Concept/Centre of Excellence in Singapore. The Proof of Concept will be the showcase of the best horticulture technologies the Netherlands has to offer in Asia and also other parts ofthe world. It is timely now for Wouter to move on to conceptualising new ideas and turning these ideas into reality in areas related to climate change, food and energy since Wouter is passionate about the significance he brings to shaping a better world.

Wouter will still be involved in the developments of farms for UFPH and the subsidiary UFPSG from his present position at KuiperCompagnons, a major shareholder of UrbanFarmingPartners.

From March 31, 2022, the UFPH-board of directors will consist of Henk van Eijk and Peter Kleijwegt. The UFPSG-board will consist of Grace Lim, Henk van Eijk and Peter Kleijwegt.

The Management
UrbanFarmingPartners Holding B.V.

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Meet Urban Farming Partners During Virtual Mission Of The Netherlands To Gulf Region

Meet Wouter Vos of Urban Farming Partners during the virtual mission of The Netherlands to Gulf region from 22 March 2021 – 8 April 2021. Urban Farming Partners brings food sustainability and security to mega-cities. UFP provides total solutions for indoor farms close to urban areas, from design, engineering and construction of the farm to production and trading. Want to meet Wouter and other Dutch entrepreneurs? They are heading to the Gulf next! 👉https://bit.ly/372WUEV
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Urban Farming Partners Singapore Awarded Funding To Build State-Of-The -Art Dutch Technology Indoor Farm in Singapore

SINGAPORE, June 4, 2020 – Urban Farming Partners Singapore (UFPSG), a unique partnership between Singapore and the Netherlands, has been awarded funding support by the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) under the Agriculture Productivity Fund (APF), enabling the urban farming initiative to take the next step towards strengthening Singapore’s food supply chain and paving the way to food security.

With Singapore’s ambition to produce enough food locally to meet 30% of the country’s nutritional needs by 2030, the Republic’s strategies towards achieving long-term food security is more urgent than ever. As a total solution provider for urban farms, integrating proven patented technologies and expert-backed worldwide operations, UFPSG’s vision is to contribute considerably to food security in Singapore, as well as Asia.

“We started our journey since 2017 when we presented our grand vision for food sustainability and food security in and around cities globally at the World City Summit in Singapore,” said Wouter Vos, director and founder of the Urban Farming Partners Holding in the Netherlands and he has since taken steps to actualize this vision together with Henk van Eijk, his fellow director. This year, UFPSG will initiate construction of a $3m state-of-the-art indoor farm in Singapore, which will be partially funded by SFA. It will be located inside the premises of HSL Waterfront @Penjuru at 42D Penjuru Road in Singapore, where all types of lettuce, baby leaves, herbs as well as other crops like spring onion and fennel will be produced in a fully-controlled indoor growing environment. This indoor urban farm is a first in Singapore that utilises Dutch technology.

“’Local for Local’ and ‘The Circular Economy’ are no longer just buzzwords. The COVID-19 pandemic makes it even more apparent that we need to restructure our critical systems globally more than ever. It is time to make a notable difference with our way of life with food,” said Grace Lim, UFPSG’s Director and project representative in Singapore.

Above: Artist’s impressions of the urban farm at HSL Waterfront @Penjuru

This farm can potentially produce 33 Tonnes of healthy and fresh, ready-to-eat produce for the Singapore market. Circular processes like the harvest of rainwater and solar power are examples of sustainable proven technologies that will be included in the overall design of the urban farm.

“We are glad to see strategic collaborations between our local agri-food industry and their overseas counterparts, as this results in the transfer of innovative and productive technology to Singapore,” said Mr Melvin Chow, Senior Director of SFA’s Food Supply Resilience Division. “Harnessing technology to grow more within our constraints will need to be the new norm for our agri-food industry as we strive towards ’30 by 30’. We will continue to support farms that are keen to develop technological capabilities.”

About Urban Farming Partners Singapore (UFPSG)

Urban Farming Partners Singapore (UFPSG) is a unique cooperation between Singapore and the Netherlands providing a holistic solution in the indoor farming industry integrating proven patented technologies and expert-backed worldwide operations.

For more information, please contact:

Singapore‍

Grace Lim

Director UrbanFarming Partners Singapore Pte. Ltd.‍

gracelim@urbanfarmingpartners.com
+65 97887996

The Netherlands‍

Mirjam Boekestijn

Management Assistant Urban Farming Partners Singapore Pte. Ltd.

mirjamboekestijn@urbanfarmingpartners.com
+31 6 25276071

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Pitch To President Halimah Yacob Of Singapore And Queen Máxima Of The Netherlands

We were very honoured to represent the Urban Farming Partners in a pitch to President Halimah Yacob of Singapore and Queen Máxima of The Netherlands. Queen Máxima accompanied on the 22nd of November president Halimah Yacob and mister Mohamed Abdullah Alhabshee from Singapore to the Horticultural Centre in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands. This is the research center of Wageningen Universiteit & Research (WUR). Food security and food safety was central in the presentations and is high on the agenda of the president of Singapore. Urban farming in Singapore is seen as a solution to improve the resiliency of Singapore.

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Urban Farming Partners Explores Urban Farming Potential In Hong Kong

Wouter Vos and Henk van Eijk, two experts of Urban Farming Partners, explored the urban farming potential in Hong Kong during a fruitful and inspiring two-day visit. A visit was brought to the Vegetable Marketing Organisation’s Controlled Environment Hydroponic Research & Development Center and the hi-tech vertical vegetable Farm66. The experts also discussed the opportunities and challenges with Annemieke Ruigrok, the Consul General of the Netherlands in Hong Kong, during a dinner. Next to exploring the opportunities of urban farming in this megacity, this fact finding mission had the aim to prepare the urban farming seminar in Hong Kong which will take place later this year.

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HSL And Urban Farming Partners Team Up For Sustainable Local Greens

Singapore imports 90% of its food – a sustainable solution was launched at CleanEnviro Summit Singapore.

H.E. Ms Margriet Vonno, Mr Lim Choo Leng, Mr Ahmed Aboutaleb, Mr Wouter Vos during the signing ceremony (Photo: Thomas Choong)

Infrastructure construction company HSL and Dutch consortium Urban Farming Partners formally marked their partnership at the Singapore International Water Week, the World City Summit and the CleanEnviro Summit in Singapore. The two partners will develop an urban farm in Singapore. This farm will be located inside the premises of HSL at the waterfront at Penjuru Road, opposite Jurong Island. Urban Farming Partners is a consortium with expertise in various aspects of indoor growing concepts, from growing and logistics to marketing and urban planning. The aim of the cooperation is to produce vegetables for the local market in a sustainable manner.

About 10% of the food that is consumed in Singapore is produced locally. The Singapore Agri-food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) supports and encourages initiatives that contribute to a higher level of self-sufficiency in greens. With the industry of indoor farming still in its infancy, Urban Farming Partners chooses to engineer the farm backwards, starting with the demand and making sure the technologies applied are in line with local consumer trends. Moreover, solutions from the circular economy concepts will be applied, such as the use of solar energy, rain water and by-products of neighbouring companies, like CO2 and residual cooling.

The signing ceremony was witnessed by the chairman of the Centre for Liveable Cities, Mr Khoo Teng Chye, Mr Ahmed Aboutaleb, mayor of the city of Rotterdam, and H.E. Ms Margriet Vonno, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

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