Singapore has officially opened Greenphyto, described as the world’s tallest indoor vertical farm, marking a significant investment in high-tech urban agriculture. Located in Jurong West, the SGD 80 million (USD 63 million) facility spans 2 hectares and comprises a five-storey structure housing five unmanned growing chambers. Each chamber contains twin hydroponic towers standing 23.3 meters high and extending 118 metres in length, adapted from warehouse stacking systems. At full capacity, the farm is designed to produce 2,000 tonnes of leafy greens annually, although current production is approximately 200 tonnes. Its vegetables, sold under the Hydrogreens brand, have been available in around 95 retail outlets, including FairPrice, Sheng Siong and Meidi-Ya since early 2025.
The farm is built around a fully automated production model that integrates AI, robotics, and data-driven crop management. A central crane-like robotic system transports seedling trays and monitors crops within the towers, while AI software tracks germination rates, crop health and yield forecasts, issuing daily alerts to farm managers. Energy efficiency has been a key focus, with Greenphyto reporting a 30% reduction in energy consumption through customized LED lighting and variable light intensity calibrated to each crop’s growth stage. The business operates on a make-to-order basis, cultivating produce only after securing confirmed orders from retailers, with the objective of reducing spoilage and managing working capital exposure.
The launch comes at a time when several local vertical farms have closed or entered liquidation, citing high capital expenditure, elevated energy costs, post-pandemic supply chain disruptions and weakened investor confidence. Singapore also replaced its “30 by 30” local production target in late 2025 with revised fiber and protein production goals for 2035, reflecting a recalibration of food security strategy. In addition to vegetable sales, Greenphyto intends to commercialize its proprietary farming infrastructure and AI platform internationally, supported by the Infocomm Media Development Authority’s Digital Leaders Program and the Singapore Food Agency’s Agri-food Cluster Transformation Fund. The company has also established a presence in the Netherlands and Malaysia as part of its technology export and regional expansion plans.
(Sources: Greenphyto; The Straits Times)
