Edible Garden City to Close: Singapore Urban Farm Faces Lease End & Rising Costs

Singapore’s Edible Garden City (EGC), a pioneering social enterprise that has championed urban farming and community-based food systems, will vacate its decade-long home in Queenstown by the end of June. The loss of the 8,557 square meter plot, equivalent to 1.2 football fields, underscores the challenges faced by socially-minded farms in a land-scarce nation where economic productivity often takes precedence.

The decision by the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) to reclaim the land for future residential development, despite a six-month extension granted to facilitate EGC’s transition, highlights a shifting government mandate. Initially, EGC was allocated the space in 2015 by an inter-agency task force focused on bolstering food resilience through community farming. However, according to EGC co-founder Bjorn Low, the emphasis has since moved towards high-tech, high-yield agriculture.

“Now, it’s about productivity, technology,” Low stated. “Because what we grow is not listed as the staples, we are not accorded the same level of attention or support.” EGC specializes in high-value crops like herbs, edible flowers, and microgreens, rather than staple foods, a factor that appears to have influenced the SLA’s decision.

The situation faced by EGC is not isolated. Ground-Up Initiative (GUI), another community farm, recently underwent a relocation in February 2025 after two years of negotiations with authorities. While GUI was granted a new plot of land, it was undeveloped, requiring significant investment to establish basic infrastructure like sewage, cabling, and drainage – ultimately doubling their rent. GUI estimates needing to spend approximately $3.3 million to fully develop the new facility, one year into their lease.

The closures and relocations raise questions about the long-term viability of community farms in Singapore. Experts suggest these farms play a vital role beyond mere food production. They serve as educational hubs, demonstrating the complexities of food cultivation to the public and preserving agricultural knowledge passed down through generations. EGC, for example, attracted nearly 10,000 visitors annually, offering urban farming tours and horticulture therapy workshops.

Low expressed particular concern for the six adults with autism employed by EGC for the past ten years. Maintaining a safe and accessible working environment for these individuals is a key priority, and finding a suitable alternative space presents a significant challenge. The potential cost of a smaller commercial space is estimated to be three times the current rent, further compounding the difficulties.

The SLA has offered EGC an alternative site available through tender, but the future remains uncertain. The incident signals a potential disconnect between the government’s stated commitment to food security and the support provided to community-based initiatives that prioritize social and educational benefits alongside productivity. Urbanist and author Sarah Ichioka warned that the decision could lead to a scenario where Singaporeans become increasingly disconnected from the origins of their food.

Professor Jeffrey Hou, head of the architecture department at the National University of Singapore, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of visible food production for fostering public understanding and engagement with the food system. The loss of EGC’s accessible urban farm represents a potential step away from that goal. As Singapore continues to pursue its food security ambitions, the role and sustainability of community farms like EGC will remain a critical point of discussion.