Farm deLight’s indoor vertical farm for micro cresses shows how a little goes a long way in Singapore’s urban farming efforts.
The aroma of freshly baked biscuits awakens the arid grounds of Khong Guan Biscuit Factory at Jalan Boon Lay. In the depths of the compound, a little sign points to Farm deLight at a wing that could be mistaken for being abandoned or disused. Up a little staircase and a clearing of racks, planter boxes and equipment still does not give hint to the contrary, until founder Edmund Wong opens the door to his 600sqm air-conditioned indoor farm. His racks of LED-lit plants are the signs of life we’re looking for. Here and in a small garden outdoors, he grows more than 20 types of micro cresses such as wood sorrel, lemon balm and marigold, as well as some flowers too.
His farm seems Lilliputian compared to others who are scaling heights in vertical indoor farming. In fact he says his farm will not factor much in Singapore’s goal of producing 30 per cent of its food by 2030, even if he will soon be growing leafy vegetables in a new 2-hectare plot of land in Neo Tiew Crescent. But his micro cresses have proved popular with fine dining chefs for a number of years now. Like the garnishes they are used for, the farm’s contributions are an unobtrusive yet vital part of the urban farming landscape.
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